der spiegel

dream of life press conference at berlinale

ROCK ICON AT BERLINALE Patti Smith Presents Documentary -- and Visits Brecht's Grave. Rock legend Patti Smith lent a little punk spirit to the Berlin International Film Festival during her visit to the German capital to promote a new documentary about her career. She even found time to visit the grave of Bertolt Brecht on the writer's birthday. Patti Smith was certainly busy during her whirlwind trip to Berlin this weekend. As well as attending a press conference, giving a concert, talking to reporters, opening an exhibition and presenting a new documentary about her career, she also found time to visit the grave of German author Bertolt Brecht on Sunday, which would have been the writer's 110th birthday. She enjoys visiting cemeteries, she told reporters at a press conference on Saturday, where she also took pictures of the assembled journalists with her Polaroid camera and treated the audience to a burst of her 1978 hit "Because the Night." Smith was in town to promote "Patti Smith -- Dream of Life," which is being shown as part of the Berlin International Film Festival. Director Steven Sebring -- a fashion photographer in his day job -- accompanied Smith over the course of 11 years to create a portrait of the singer often referred to as the poet laureate of punk. The film, which was shot on a 16-mm camera mostly in black and white, shows the various sides of the multi-talented musician and writer. As well as concert footage, it shows the 61-year-old singer, who made a name for herself with her seminal 1975 album "Horses," at home with her family and taking part in political protests. The singer is a committed political activist and has even written a song (more...) about the German resident Murat Kurnaz who was held in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. An exhibition of photographs by Sebring is also showing in Berlin to accompany the film. "Objects of Life," which can be seen at the gallery Artmbassy until Feb. 14, features large-format photographs of some of Smith's personal possessions which also appear in the documentary. As well as pictures of a childhood dress and the battered boots in which Smith has traveled around the world, there is also a photograph of an urn containing the ashes of the legendary photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, a personal friend of Smith's who took the iconic portrait of the singer featured on the cover of "Horses."