Feminism WTF: Austrian documentary film that alternates between academic contributions and dance performances to highlight relevant issues in feminism today.
Plot and background
Although the women’s movement as the most successful social movement of the 20th century has fought for better living conditions for many women* and feminist debates like metoo have already arrived in the middle of society, the term “feminist” still often has a negative undertone. In the documentary “Feminism WTF”, the topics that the term “feminism” encompasses in the year 2023 are examined. Experts from political and social sciences, masculinity studies, gender, queer and trans studies provide food for thought on how we can all contribute to breaking down power and dependency relationships. Many current debates are addressed and important questions are asked: Why do we always talk about only two genders? Why does the majority of unpaid care work remain with women*? Why are capitalism and feminism a contradiction? What does European colonialism have to do with today’s ideas of sexual freedom and racist stereotypes? Why is feminism necessary to save the climate? And where is the commitment of men to feminism?
“Feminism WTF” – background, cast, cinema release
In the documentary film “Feminsim WTF”, Austrian director Katharina Mückstein (“L’Animale”) puts various experts into a cinematic dialogue. Maisha Auma, Persson Perry Baumgartinger, Astrid Biele Mefebue, Nikita Dhawan, Christoph May, Sigrid Schmitz, Franziska Schutzbach, Rona Torenz, Paula Villa Braslavsky, Laura Wiesböck and Emilene Wopana Mudimu were the protagonists in front of the camera. The academic contributions are accompanied by music video sequences set to Tony Renaissance’s electronic soundtrack, with aestheticised dance and performance motifs designed to break with common notions of pop feminism by creating new, pleasurable images of the body and gender.
The official German theatrical release date for “Feminsim WTF” is 7 September 2023.
