Adapted from the roman à clef by Klaus Mann (son of Thomas), MEPHISTO—directed by István Szabó and based on Gustaf Gründgens, the great German actor, extreme political opportunist, and Klaus’ former brother-in-law—traces the simultaneous rise and fall of Hendrik Höfgen, a leftist thespian (played by Klaus Maria Brandauer) who becomes the toast of Nazi Berlin for his portrayal of Goethe ’s Mephistopheles.
“In the energy they bring to the film, Brandauer and Szabó have made a mighty statement, but it is as much about acting, I think, as Nazism. In Höfgen, we see an empty man, standing for nothing. This doesn’t even bother him.” — Roger Ebert
This week at the Egyptian, the American Cinematheque and Kino Lorber present a screening of the 4K restoration of MEPHISTO—winner of the Academy Award for Best-Foreign Language film—on a double bill with the 4K restoration of Szabó’s Silver Bear winner CONFIDENCE (1980).
Friday, January 24, at 7:30 pm.
Egyptian Theatre
6712 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles.
István Szabó, Mephisto (1981), from top: Klaus Maria Brandauer (6). Poster is from East German release. Images courtesy and © the filmmaker, the actors, the photographers, and Kino Lorber.
