Barbara Morgenstern at work: melodies are hummed, lyrics written and refined, funding applications drafted, rehearsals scheduled and band
discussions planned. Before Morgenstern’s new album is released and performed on stage for the first time, filmmaker Sabine Herpich meticulously documents every step of the musician’s creative process. She portrays art-making as a craft, prompting viewers to rethink the very nature of work. What does it mean to be a musician today? How can you avoid being discouraged by bureaucratic hurdles? The answers reverberate through this warm, vibrant and political film – in every note, every glance. Barbara Morgenstern remains agile and optimistic.
Her warmth infuses both her music and her incisive lyrics because it is an intrinsic part of who she is. Even as the world darkens, it’s as if she chooses to look ahead – with unwavering conviction in her purpose. The film’s title not only references one of Morgenstern’s new songs but also symbolically links the filmmaker to her subject – after all, isn’t the filmmaker, too, a worker? While biopics often tend towards excessive flattery or clichés, this film’s strength lies in its ability to foster a solidarity among female artists. It captures the artistic expression of its subjects with an intimacy that is as direct as it is affectionate. The songs endure, and so do the images.

In cooperation with Freie Szene Film Dortmund e.V.