Summer-Dream-Prelude to Hannah Arendt

In her documentary, Ada Ushpitz explores the controversial reception of Hannah Arendt's philosophical reflections on the Eichmann trial and, in contrast, opens up Arendt's own view of things. The (family) background and (philosophical) career of this advocate of critical thinking are outlined in equal measure.

Ada Ushpiz traces the life and work of Hannah Arendt and repeatedly builds bridges to current developments and focal points. Her film shows how relevant Hannah Arendt's insights are for political action today. Whether in the Arab Spring, in the protests against political repression in Ukraine, in the Occupy movement or in publicizing state-sanctioned spying on entire peoples, Arendt's work has recently taken on a new relevance. Her book "On Revolution", for example, has taken on a central role in the political debate among members of the opposition in the countries of the Arab Spring. Her essay "Power and Violence" can also be related to the unjust regimes of our time; and her "Report on the Banality of Evil", which attempts to grasp the roots and abysses of the National Socialist regime in the person of Adolf Eichmann, refers to our modern societies (arte//WDR 2015).