synopsis

Ute Bock died on 19th January 2018. About ten thousand people gathered at the „Lichtermeer“ on Viennese Heldenplatz to take farewell. „Ute Bock Superstar“ measures the gap she left behind and asks if we aint in need of an iconic figure of humanity more than ever in our society. A role which Ute Bock indeed has always refused, because it can`t be iconic to offer food to starving people and accommodation for the homeless. This should be „a normal, natural act“, standing for itself. The film refers to her family history, the father, from whom she distanced herself ideological, and the mother, who was from Germany. Also it tells about her time as home mother for adolescents considered as difficult., starting in the 90ies also refugees from the wars in former Yugoslavia and from Africa. Out of this developed her big aid-project she was celebrated for like a popstar in public. „Ute Bock Superstar“ shows the legacy of Ute Bock. Family members and colleagues, former pupils and refugees, children and adults, politicians and celebrities tell about encouters and experiences with her and create a shimmering overall picture of a modest woman who has achieved a phenomenal work.

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Houchang Allahyari

Director’s biography

Born in 1941 in Tehran / Iran, Houchang Allahyari is an Austrian psychiatrist and filmmaker of Iranian origin. He was born in Iran and emigrated to Austria as a teenager. In Vienna, where he still lives, he studied medicine and worked for a long time as a psychiatrist in prisons. From 1970 he made numerous short films and later also feature films - the films I LOVE VIENNA (1991) and GEBOREN IN ABSURDISTAN (1999) found a larger audience in Austria. Allahyari repeatedly addresses the fates of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in his films. His films received several awards, including the Diagonale Grand Prize for Best Austrian Feature Film and the Austrian Film Award.
Films (selection): PASOLINI INSZENIERT SEINEN TOD (1985), BORDERLINE (1988), FLEISCHWOLF (1990), I LOVE VIENNA (1991), HÖHENANGST (1994), GEBOREN IN ABSURDISTAN (1999), BOCK FOR PRESIDENT (2009), DIE VERRÜCKTE WELT DER UTE BOCK (2010), DER LETZTE TANZ (2014), DIE LIEBENDEN VON BALUTSCHISTAN (2017)