Der Indianer

Der Indianer, is the title given by Leo Lentz to the autobiographical report of his experiences as a cancer patient (cancer of the throat), referring to the red stripes applied to his face to mark the part that was to be x-rayed. In 1977, when Lentz was 47 years old, he heard that he had cancer of the throat. The subsequent years were totally dominated by his disease: there were operations, x-rays, chemotherapy. He lost his natural voice and had to learn to control the difficult oesophagus-language with his gullet. In Der Indianer Lentz, non-sentimentally and remarkably accurately, describes how he experienced the process of being ill, of living more consciously and intensively, of trying to resist physical pain and social isolation, and of learning to cope with the prospect of death that was quickly approaching. Incited by filmcritic and producer Michael Lentz, the patient's brother, Rolf Schübel made a documentary with the same title as the text on which it was based. In close co-operation with Leo Lentz Schübel selected a combination of subjective camera-treatment, penetrating comment consisting of fragments from the book, and interviews with acquaintances of Lentz. This has resulted in a stirring report, not only of the outward course, but also of the inner experience of the disease. The feeling of helplessness, loneliness, and of being at the mercy of medical equipment (in spite of the dedication of friends and nurses) is being made truly perceptible. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)