Veruschka – Die Inszenierung (m)eines Körpers

Known by the pseudonym of «Veruschka», Vera von Lehndorff became the first internationally acclaimed super model from Germany. This feature documentary narrates the main stages of her life. The completion of her studies was followed by her transformation, from the countess and daughter of a Hitler conspirator, into the exotic model Veruschka and her meteoric rise to stardom. At 20, she was posing in art performances by Dalí and appeared in Antonioni’s Blow Up. As time went by, Vera matured into an independent artist herself. She took an active interest in what was happening in the world and expressed her experience in her art. VERUSCHKA: A LIFE FOR THE CAMERA by Bernd Böhm and Paul Morrissey combines archive footage, interviews, and artistic performances to create a multifaceted portrait. In addition to her work as a model, the film also highlights Veruschka's collaboration with artists such as Salvador Dalí and photographers such as Richard Avedon, who inscribed her image into the visual canon of pop culture. VERUSCHKA: A LIFE FOR THE CAMERA celebrated its international premiere in 2005 at the Venice International Film Festival, where the documentary was shown in the “Horizons” section. This gave the work a prominent setting that underscored its significance at the intersection of fashion, art, and cinema.