09-24-2025, 10:30 AM
The Director by Daniel Kehlman
A semi-fictionalized telling of the life of German director P.W. Pabst. I'm not familiar with his works but his main claim to fame was the discovery of Greta Garbo. The book charts his life from his time in Hollywood to being stuck in Germany during World War 2 where he was forced to make films for the German government. Lots of famous characters appear in his life most notably Leni Refinstahl. The book hinges on a film he made towards the end of the war and asks the question how far will you go to make a picture. That was probably the most fictionalized part.
It was dour and depressing but a fascinating look at Pabst's life.
A semi-fictionalized telling of the life of German director P.W. Pabst. I'm not familiar with his works but his main claim to fame was the discovery of Greta Garbo. The book charts his life from his time in Hollywood to being stuck in Germany during World War 2 where he was forced to make films for the German government. Lots of famous characters appear in his life most notably Leni Refinstahl. The book hinges on a film he made towards the end of the war and asks the question how far will you go to make a picture. That was probably the most fictionalized part.
It was dour and depressing but a fascinating look at Pabst's life.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm