Berliner Volksbühne: Bullfighting as a cinematic close combat in Albert Serra's "Afternoon of Solitude"

Spanish artist Albert Serra plunges into close combat with the noble animal and with tradition. "Afternoon of Solitude" premieres at the Volksbühne.

Image added on April 8, 2025 | Copyright Filmgalerie451 Stars Andrés Roca Rey Film Tardes De Soledad - Afternoons of Solitude Filmgalerie451

Human beauty and cruelty are boundless. You don't need films to reach this realization. But films can help sharpen your eye for nuances. Among those surveying these uncertain realms is the Spanish artist Albert Serra. Born in Catalonia in 1975, he became known in Germany primarily for his video installations and the pretentious feature film "The Death of Louis XIV" (2016), starring Jean-Pierre Léaud.

In 2018, he directed his widely reviled Fassbinder homage "Liberté" at the Volksbühne . Now he returns to the theater's main stage with a feature-length film. After more than ten fictional works, this is his first documentary film ever. It's about bullfighting.