Germany 2025Language:GermanSubtitles:EnglishDirector:Luisa Walther14 min, Colour

ZWIESPALT is an essay film about filmmaker Luisa and her long-time school friend Pascal, who visit their old school on a winter's day: the Berlin State Ballet School and School for Artistry. In recent years, the institution has come under heavy criticism after a former student publicly reported structural abuses following her expulsion.
All this happened after Pascal and Luisa's time at the school. They now stand in the building of their past – confronted with conflicting memories, reports and emotions. There were problems, yes – but there were other things too. A clear black-and-white view seems too simplistic. How can one understand an institution that trains dancers according to centuries-old traditions and at the same time prepares them for a ruthless market?
So Pascal and Luisa embark on a personal search for clues: What was it like back then? What is it like today? And where do they themselves stand in this complex structure?