The Loneliness Of The Villages

I think a lot about why and how small villages develop. Through my film, I’ve visited two: Zusamaltheim in Bavaria and Lusignan in France. Both are relatively quiet (in my view); there are lots of shops that have closed down: the optician’s, the photo shop, the grocery shop, the newspaper and tabac shop.

Both had a bakery, though! But no café where the villagers could meet up for a chat. Both, however, had an organic shop set up on the locals’ own initiative! The one in Zusamaltheim was a farm shop run by the only organic farmer for kilometers around; the one in Lusignan was a lovingly run organic shop with plenty of local fruit and vegetables, cider and wine (I bought the most delicious pear cider in the world there!!).
I’m thinking about the evolution of villages now.

Trip to Bavaria

Did I tell you? That I got a nice film funding for my current film project called “Khanis Reise”?
It has started. The journey has begun: in Bavaria, close to Augsburg and München. I dreamed about a place and I went there.

The name is “Zusamaltheim” and I like it; it contains “together”, “old” and “home”, and somehow also “cohesion” …
There’s no accommodation in Zusamaltheim, so I’ve booked a room at the “Hotel zum Hirsch” in Wertingen, 6 km away, for 6 days. I’ve rented a mountain bike.

I cycle a lot around the area every day and am building up fantastic leg muscles.

I’m exploring Zusamaltheim: I don’t think there’s a more dreary or boring village … like so many villages here, there’s no public life left (or am I wrong?): no grocery, no shop, no café, no kiosk, no one on the streets … OK, it’s very hot, everything’s covered in concrete (that used to be a sign of wealth: clean streets, pavements that are easy to sweep, great motorway access, tarmac driveways and the ever-manicured green lawns…)… well, one exception: in Zusamaltheim there’s Josef the organic farmer, who runs a farm shop with his wife Annemarie, and you can buy coffee and tea and cake and eco stuff and sit in the shade under the chestnut tree – lovely!

What can I take from this for my research on coincidence and this special film? A longing for water. Cold, clear water. And Melusine.
Melusine is featured on the village coat of arms. A siren, a mermaid, with two tails. But they only grew on her on Saturdays, and they shimmered beautifully … She married a man who had to promise to leave her in peace on Saturdays and not to control her … but of course he couldn’t help himself and peered through the bathroom keyhole. Oh my goodness, what a fuss that caused! So she moved out – bye-bye, control freak.

What does she have to do with my film? I don’t know exactly yet, but I’ve found that films always take on a life of their own… and this one is doing just that!
I’ll keep you updated!