Im Schatten der Bilder

Directed by Birgitta Weizenegger

The documentary traces the extraordinary rise of expressionist artist Stephanie Hollenstein. From a farm girl from Lustenau to the most influential force in Viennese women's art, she rose to become president of the Association of Female Artists in Austria. She went to war disguised as a man and lived openly as a homosexual at a time when this was criminalized. Until then, it was a heroic story, until she joined the banned NSDAP in 1934, whose ideals she remained faithful to until her death in 1944. The documentary outlines Hollenstein's career against the backdrop of the political and economic conditions of her time, which show parallels to our present day.