The Woman with the Five Elephants
[Die Frau mit den 5 Elefanten], directed by Vadim Jendreyko, Germany 2010, 97'
The Gdańsk Literary Meetings “Found in Translation” invite to the screening of the multiple award-winning documentary film from Vadim Jendreyko. Its heroine is Svetlana Geier, translator of Russian literature into German.
At the age of eighty-five, Svetlana Geier began her first post-war journey to Ukraine—her home country. She was accompanied by director Vadim Jendreyko, who, however, did not decide to create a typical documentary; this film has few spoken words, no interviews. The film tracks its heroine's memories, and the archival materials illustrate the events she witnessed. Jendreyko accompanies her on her journey to childhood scenarios, but also observes the daily, home life of the translator. The film interweaves the life story of Svetlana Geier with her literary work, following the mystery of this inexhaustible language mediator. Jendreyko talks about great suffering, quiet helpers, chances that came despite the lack of hope for them—and about a love for languages that surpassed all else.
