Niko von Glasow
Encyclopedia
Niko von Glasow is a feature film director as well as a documentary film director. Von Glasow is the son of Ernst Brücher and Majella Neven DuMont, founders of the DuMont Publishing house in Cologne.
The producer and director for Palladio Film
, von Glasow began his training with Rainer Werner Fassbinder
. He then worked for a number of film directors including George Stefan Troller, Hellmuth Costard, Alexander Kluge, Peter Zadek and Jean-Jacques Annaud
. Von Glasow has also worked for film distributors, film studios, and the first European Low-Budget Film Festival in Hamburg
.
Von Glasow studied drama coaching with John Costopoulos and film directing with Jack Garfine. He studied film at New York University
and at the Film Academy of Lódz in Poland. This is where he made his first feature film, Wedding Guests, in 1991. In 1994 he wrote, directed and produced Marie's Song, starring Sylvie Testud, Bastian Trost, Veronica Quilligan and Jean-François Perrier. In 2004 he directed and produced Edelweiss Pirates starring Iwan Stebunow, Bela B., Jan Decleir, Jochen Nickel and Anna Thalbach. He co-produced the films Dandy and Wintersleeper.
In 2008 he produced and directed his first feature documentary NoBody's Perfect. With a darkly humorous touch, and no deference to political correctness, NoBody's Perfect follows Niko von Glasow as he looks for eleven people who, like him, were born disabled due to the disastrous side-effects of Thalidomide
, and who are prepared to pose for a book of photos.
The film won the German Film Award 2009 for Best Documentary.
Von Glasow lives in London
and Cologne. He is a member of BAFTA and the European Film Academy
, and has taught scriptwriting at UCLA in Los Angeles, in Bangkok and Tibet
, and at the Wederzijds-Theater in Amsterdam.
, and who are prepared to pose for a book of photos. And to pose naked – to allow those who regularly throw furtive glances at Thalidomiders and other physically disabled people, to take a good, long look. In the process, Niko discovers many fascinating characters who work in such diverse areas as politics, the media, sport, astrophysics and acting. Characters who have learned to live with their disability to an impressive level of “normality”.
With a darkly humorous touch, and no deference to political correctness, NoBody's Perfect explores the specific problems which these twelve extraordinary people have faced during childhood, adolescence and adulthood, and shows them reacting with curiosity, enthusiasm or (like Niko himself) horror towards the project. As the film approaches its climax – the photoshoots – von Glasow completes the picture with scenes showing his unsuccessful attempts to make contact with the chemical company Gruenenthal, to talk about Thalidomide and its effects. Von Glasow presents an impressive portrayal of the sensitivities and feelings of disabled people, and our society’s reactions to them.
"It was the first real cinema film, historically, made by a disabled director about disability. It was time to face my demons! I always wanted to avoid the subject of disability. I was like the drinker who didn't want to admit it. That's the first step in the AA meeting. I never wanted to admit publicly I'm disabled. My wife said it was time to look the devil in the eye! We started with a very simple question: who could be the hero: answer, me!"
But having himself as the hero wasn't enough. Von Glasow then asked himself, "What's my biggest fear? In my case it's public nudity. People stare at me anyway. When I go to a beach with my swimming suit on people stare even more, so I don't go to beaches. I had to find 11 other thalidomiders who strip naked for a calendar and I became Mr. December. It became a dark but very funny comedy. I did it and now I feel better! More secure: in my soul, in my being, inside. Once you go into it, honesty is very healing."
Calling Nobody's Perfect "The best black comedy about Thalidomide ever", von Glasow is rightly proud of his German Film Award: "It's the greatest honour you can get in Germany and comes with €200,000, which makes the honour even bigger! I really appreciate the award coming from colleagues. It's basically the 'German Oscar'."
The producer and director for Palladio Film
Palladio Film
Palladio Film is an international production company based in Cologne and London, specializing in theatrical feature films and documentaries....
, von Glasow began his training with Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Rainer Werner Fassbinder
Rainer Werner Maria Fassbinder was a German movie director, screenwriter and actor. He is considered one of the most important representatives of the New German Cinema.He maintained a frenetic pace in film-making...
. He then worked for a number of film directors including George Stefan Troller, Hellmuth Costard, Alexander Kluge, Peter Zadek and Jean-Jacques Annaud
Jean-Jacques Annaud
Jean-Jacques Annaud is a French film director, film producer and screenwriter.- Biography :Annaud was born in Juvisy-sur-Orge, Essonne...
. Von Glasow has also worked for film distributors, film studios, and the first European Low-Budget Film Festival in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
.
Von Glasow studied drama coaching with John Costopoulos and film directing with Jack Garfine. He studied film at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
and at the Film Academy of Lódz in Poland. This is where he made his first feature film, Wedding Guests, in 1991. In 1994 he wrote, directed and produced Marie's Song, starring Sylvie Testud, Bastian Trost, Veronica Quilligan and Jean-François Perrier. In 2004 he directed and produced Edelweiss Pirates starring Iwan Stebunow, Bela B., Jan Decleir, Jochen Nickel and Anna Thalbach. He co-produced the films Dandy and Wintersleeper.
In 2008 he produced and directed his first feature documentary NoBody's Perfect. With a darkly humorous touch, and no deference to political correctness, NoBody's Perfect follows Niko von Glasow as he looks for eleven people who, like him, were born disabled due to the disastrous side-effects of Thalidomide
Thalidomide
Thalidomide was introduced as a sedative drug in the late 1950s that was typically used to cure morning sickness. In 1961, it was withdrawn due to teratogenicity and neuropathy. There is now a growing clinical interest in thalidomide, and it is introduced as an immunomodulatory agent used...
, and who are prepared to pose for a book of photos.
The film won the German Film Award 2009 for Best Documentary.
Von Glasow lives in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Cologne. He is a member of BAFTA and the European Film Academy
European Film Academy
The European Film Academy is an initiative of a group of European filmmakers who came together in Berlin on the occasion of the first presentation of the European Film Awards in November 1988.- European Film Academy :...
, and has taught scriptwriting at UCLA in Los Angeles, in Bangkok and Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
, and at the Wederzijds-Theater in Amsterdam.
NoBody's Perfect
The documentary NoBody's Perfect follows Niko von Glasow as he looks for eleven people who, like him, were born disabled due to the disastrous side-effects of ThalidomideThalidomide
Thalidomide was introduced as a sedative drug in the late 1950s that was typically used to cure morning sickness. In 1961, it was withdrawn due to teratogenicity and neuropathy. There is now a growing clinical interest in thalidomide, and it is introduced as an immunomodulatory agent used...
, and who are prepared to pose for a book of photos. And to pose naked – to allow those who regularly throw furtive glances at Thalidomiders and other physically disabled people, to take a good, long look. In the process, Niko discovers many fascinating characters who work in such diverse areas as politics, the media, sport, astrophysics and acting. Characters who have learned to live with their disability to an impressive level of “normality”.
With a darkly humorous touch, and no deference to political correctness, NoBody's Perfect explores the specific problems which these twelve extraordinary people have faced during childhood, adolescence and adulthood, and shows them reacting with curiosity, enthusiasm or (like Niko himself) horror towards the project. As the film approaches its climax – the photoshoots – von Glasow completes the picture with scenes showing his unsuccessful attempts to make contact with the chemical company Gruenenthal, to talk about Thalidomide and its effects. Von Glasow presents an impressive portrayal of the sensitivities and feelings of disabled people, and our society’s reactions to them.
"It was the first real cinema film, historically, made by a disabled director about disability. It was time to face my demons! I always wanted to avoid the subject of disability. I was like the drinker who didn't want to admit it. That's the first step in the AA meeting. I never wanted to admit publicly I'm disabled. My wife said it was time to look the devil in the eye! We started with a very simple question: who could be the hero: answer, me!"
But having himself as the hero wasn't enough. Von Glasow then asked himself, "What's my biggest fear? In my case it's public nudity. People stare at me anyway. When I go to a beach with my swimming suit on people stare even more, so I don't go to beaches. I had to find 11 other thalidomiders who strip naked for a calendar and I became Mr. December. It became a dark but very funny comedy. I did it and now I feel better! More secure: in my soul, in my being, inside. Once you go into it, honesty is very healing."
Calling Nobody's Perfect "The best black comedy about Thalidomide ever", von Glasow is rightly proud of his German Film Award: "It's the greatest honour you can get in Germany and comes with €200,000, which makes the honour even bigger! I really appreciate the award coming from colleagues. It's basically the 'German Oscar'."
Selected filmography
- 2008: NoBody's Perfect
- 2008: Look At Me
- 2004: Edelweiss Pirates
- 2004: Elke Heidenreich
- 1997: Wintersleeper
- 1994: Marie's Song
- 1991: Wedding Guests