Angel Wagenstein: Art Is a Weapon

Summary: This provocative portrait of the Bulgarian-Jewish scriptwriter and novelist, Angel Wagenstein (1922-2023), offers a fresh perspective on the past century. It takes viewers down unfamiliar historical and ideological paths and revisits the revolutions of 1989 and after with a critical eye. The director introduces viewers to a brilliant and charismatic storyteller, for whom art became a form of resistance against a series of oppressive and corrupt regimes. Interviews with Wagenstein reveal his remarkable wit and intellect. Simon’s film is a must-see chronicle of a complicated history through the eyes of an artist who spoke truth to power throughout his storied career.The documentary includes clips from many of Wagenstein’s films, including his East German DEFA productions—Stars, The Little Prince, Chronicle of a Murder, Goya and Eolomea.