Vision – From the Life of Hildegard von Bingen

Vision (; English: Vision – From the Life of Hildegard von Bingen) is a 2009 German film directed by Margarethe von Trotta. Plot In Vision, New German Cinema auteur Margarethe von Trotta (Marianne and Julianne, Rosa Luxemburg and Rosentrasse) tells the story of Hildegard of Bingen, the famed 12th century Benedictine nun, Christian mystic, composer, philosopher, playwright, physician, poet, naturalist, scientist and ecological activist. Hildegard was a multi-talented, highly intelligent woman who had to work within the narrow social roles allowed for women at the time. Cast Barbara Sukowa as Hildegard of Bingen Stella Holzapfel as Hildegard as a Child Heino Ferch as Brother Volmar Hannah Herzsprung as Sister Richardis Mareile Blendi as Countess Jutta von Sponheim Sunnyi Melles as Marchioness Richardis von Stade Alexander Held as Abbot Kuno Lena Stolze as Sister Jutta Paula Kalenberg as Sister Clara Annemarie Düringer as Abbess Tengwich Devid Striesow as Emperor Frederick Barbarossa Production Integrally involved with the 1970s Women’s Movement, filmmaker Margarethe von Trotta has always been drawn to women whose story has been marginalized over time. Von Trotta and others re-found Hildegard von Bingen in their search for historically forgotten (or misremembered) women. While writing the screenplay for her 1983 film Rosa Luxemburg, von Trotta’s interest in Hildegard re-emerged and she wondered whether Hildegard’s life would be good material for a movie. After writing a few scenes, von Trotta felt the film had a powerful message and potential resonance but didn’t feel she could find a producer ready to make the movie. Thus, von Trotta shelved the idea until it came to cinematic fruition recently.