Alma & Oskar: Drama by Austrian filmmaker Dieter Berner about Alma Mahler and Oskar Kokoschka, two early 20th century art icons, and their passionate, at times destructive affair.
Plot and background
Vienna, 1912: This is where two artistic souls meet. Between Alma Mahler (Emily Cox), young widow of composer Gustav Mahler (Marcello de Nardo), and expressionist painter Oskar Kokoschka (Valentin Postlmayr) begins an intimate affair in which the sparks quickly fly. After the sudden death of Gustav Mahler in 1911, Alma decides to go on with her life without any ifs or buts, wanting to be recognized as an artist herself and especially as a conductor. Her goal is to premiere her husband’s 9th Symphony, which he completed shortly before his death. Not an easy undertaking, women are not welcome in the role of conductor at this time.
In the midst of this already difficult period of mourning, Alma and Oskar meet for the first time. The expressionist artist Oskar was called in to make the death mask of Gustav Mahler. With his art he usually likes to offend, many voices describe his works as “wild” and “non-conformist”. After his first encounter with Alma, he chooses her as his muse, which leads to an obsession. For Alma, on the other hand, a tightrope act begins; Oskar is not the only interested party. The German star architect Anton Gropius (Anton von Lucke) already made advances to her during her husband’s lifetime and now asks for her hand in marriage. Nevertheless, an affair begins between Alma and Oskar, but its course takes a destructive turn. Both are stubborn, possessive, cold – the drama is programmed.
“Alma & Oskar” – background, cast, theatrical release
Following the biopic “Egon Schiele – Death and a Girl”, director Dieter Berner and screenwriter Hilde Berger once again worked with the production team around Alexander Glehr and Johanna Scherz. The result is another biopic, which is once again dedicated to an Austrian artist, Oskar Kokoschka, but focuses on his relationship with Alma Mahler. The biopic is based on the non-fiction book “Die Windsbraut” by Hilde Berger.
Emily Cox (“The Last Kingdom”) and Valentin Postlmayr (“SOKO Wien”) have been cast as Alma and Oskar, with Anton von Lucke (“Babylon Berlin”), Wilfried Hochholdinger (“Hindafing”), Marcello de Nardo (“Die Dreigroschenoper”) and Cornelius Obonya (“Sachertorte”) completing the cast. On July 6, 2023, “Alma & Oskar” will be released in German cinemas.
