EINE KIRCHE DER ANGST VOR DEM FREMDEN IN MIR

In the organizer's words:

BRD 2008, documentary, 91 min

Director: Christoph Schlingensief

Language: OmeU (German with English subtitles)

In his Fluxus oratorio "A church of fear of the stranger in me", film and theater director Christoph Schlingensief devotes himself for the first time to the cancer he was diagnosed with in the same year. Fear is the rock on which Schlingensief builds his church. In it, he, a former altar boy, explores not only his relationship with God, but above all his relationship with himself. Thus begins a journey into the self. Transcendence and transparency on a collision course: the church interior is modeled on that of his home parish Herz Jesu in Oberhausen. He creates images, confessions and litanies that trace the intruder and approach the fear of death.

The film documents Schlingensief's production "A Church of Fear of the Stranger in Me" as part of the Ruhrtriennale 2008. The stage design was awarded the Golden Lion in 2011 as part of the German Pavilion - La Biennale di Venezia.

The event takes place as part of the exhibition "NACH Christoph Schlingensief" (3.10.2025 - 24.1.2026) at 47m Contemporary (Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 12, 04107 Leipzig). With the solo exhibition "AFTER Christoph Schlingensief", the Kunstverein 47m Contemporary is showing Christoph Schlingensief (1960-2010). With selected films and his last installation, the exhibition opens up and links varying approaches to his artistic approach. It shows how he consistently worked with unfinished forms in order to activate the audience - an approach that continues to have an impact today. Throughout his life, he crossed the boundaries of film, theater, visual arts and opera and combined calculated settings with the chance of the moment, directly incorporating the reactions of the audience and public into the artistic process.

ENG: Christoph Schlingensief devoted his Fluxus Oratorio "A Church of Fear vs. the Alien within" (2008) to his cancer diagnosis that same year. Fear is the rock on which Schlingensief builds his church. In it he probes his relationship to God and to himself; it is a journey to himself. The church interior is modeled on that of his hometown Church of the Sacred Heart in Oberhausen. He creates images, confessions and litanies that trace the intruder and examine the fear of death.

The film shows Schlingensief's presentation of his Church of Fear at the Ruhrtriennale in 2008. The stage design was awarded the Golden Lion in 2011 as the contribution to the German Pavilion at the Biennale di Venezia.

The screening is part of the additional program of the exhibition "NACH Christoph Schlingensief" (3 October 2025 - 24 January 2026) at 47m Contemporary (Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 12, 04107 Leipzig). With the solo presentation "NACH Christoph Schlingensief", 47m Contemporary presents Christoph Schlingensief (1960-2010). Through selected films and his last installation, the exhibition opens up and interweaves different approaches to Schlingensief's artistic attitude. It demonstrates how he consistently employed unfinished forms to activate audiences-an approach that continues to resonate to this day. Throughout his life, he crossed the boundaries of film, theater, visual art, and opera, combining carefully orchestrated structures with the contingencies of the moment, which drew the reactions of audiences and the public directly into the artistic process.

Filmtext: Filmgalerie 451

In cooperation with / a cooperation with

47m

Ticket info

The cinema ticket is also valid as a one-time admission ticket to the exhibition during the entire exhibition period.

The cinema ticket is also valid as a one-time admission ticket to the exhibition for the entire exhibition period.

Price information:

- 7.50 € (regular) - 6.00 € (reduced*) - 3.50 € (with Leipzig Pass, disabled pass, volunteer pass) - Films longer than 130 min: + 1.00 € - Tickets are available online (plus 0.70 € booking fee), remaining tickets at the Box Office.