Summer in New York, 1967. While honking cars and hurried pedestrians make their way through the city, Merce Cunningham is rehearsing his new piece "Scramble" together with his dancers. In 498 THIRD AVENUE (West Germany 1967/68), documentary filmmaker Klaus Wildenhahn accompanies the ensemble for two months between everyday rehearsals and the benefit event, allowing Cunningham and the dancers to have their say again and again. The camera becomes a silent observer, revealing the fragile structure between the process of artistic creation and the reality everyday life as a dancer. Everyone for themselves, all together: dance as a hyena never sated, that demands everything. On the occasion of the "Tanz im August" festival, the Deutsche Kinemathek is showing this film document about one of the most important choreographers. Virve Sutinen, artistic director of "Tanz im August", will be introducing the film. (ah) (29.8.)
