Une Rose Ouverte draws inspiration from a poignant line penned by Rosa Luxemburg during her solitary confinement in 1917: “And in the darkness, I smile at life.” This sentence encapsulates the luminous joie de vivre that radiates through her prison letters, a defiant appreciation for life’s beauty amidst political turmoil. Luxemburg’s vivid descriptions of birds, flowers, clouds, and colors reveal a deep sensory connection to nature, even in the darkest times.

This essayistic film weaves excerpts from Luxemburg’s lyrical letters, presented in German and Arabic, into a rich tapestry of visuals and sounds. Wintry images of Berlin, an intimate reading in Beirut, archival footage from the First World War, and a workers’ battle song converge with echoes of Nico, Gerhard Richter, Brecht, and Breton. These elements, combined with voices, music, and silent reflections, create a polyphonic collage of overlapping layers—visual, auditory, and emotional.

Through this interplay of historical and contemporary contexts, the film offers a retrospective on the 20th century, exploring connections between Germany and the Middle East and the militant struggles that shaped both regions. Yet, amid this narrative of resistance, Une Rose Ouverte reveals a profound truth: beauty and defiance can coexist, even in the darkest of times, offering moments of hope and clarity.

https://www.berlinale.de/en/2019/programme/201911123.html
Showcase: Arsenal, institute for film and video art, (Germany)
69TH BERLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - BERLINALE, 2019