13.07.2015 Views

Download the Press Kit - Zeitgeist Films.

Download the Press Kit - Zeitgeist Films.

Download the Press Kit - Zeitgeist Films.

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Margret Wittmer (voiced by Diane Kruger):In <strong>the</strong> summer of 1931, 27-year-old Margret Wittmer left Cologne,Germany, with her husband Heinz and her 14-year-old stepson Harry.The Wittmer’s were middle-class Germans who sought a new life in <strong>the</strong>Galapagos both as a way out of <strong>the</strong> grim economic and political realitiesof 1930s Germany, and as a healthful place in which <strong>the</strong>y hoped Harrywould recover from what was probably rheumatic heart disease. Theywere inspired to migrate to <strong>the</strong> Islands by articles that were written byand about Friedrich Ritter in <strong>the</strong> German newspapers, and fancied<strong>the</strong>mselves becoming “The Swiss Family Robinsons of <strong>the</strong> Galapagos.”The Wittmers chose Floreana in particular because Ritter was aphysician and Margret, five months pregnant with her first child when<strong>the</strong>y landed on <strong>the</strong> Island, hoped <strong>the</strong> doctor would help her through herimpending labor. In 1959, Margret wrote her version of <strong>the</strong> Floreanastory in her book Floreana: A Woman’s Pilgrimage to <strong>the</strong> Galapagos.Heinz Wittmer (voiced by Sebastian Koch):41-year-old Heinz Wittmer was working as personal secretary to <strong>the</strong>mayor of Cologne when, discouraged by <strong>the</strong> grim economic and politicalrealities of 1930s Germany, and concerned about <strong>the</strong> fragile health of his14-year-old son Harry, he read a series of newspaper articles written byFriedrich Ritter. These articles inspired him deeply and he soonconvinced his new wife, Margret, to leave everything behind and movepermanently to <strong>the</strong> Galapagos. The Wittmers landed on Floreana inAugust 1931 and from <strong>the</strong> beginning fancied <strong>the</strong>mselves “The SwissFamily Robinsons of <strong>the</strong> Galapagos.”Baroness Eloise von Wagner (voiced by Connie Nielsen):The Austrian Baroness von Wagner landed on Floreana in October 1931along with two much younger German lovers, Robert Philippson andRudolf Lorenz. Having read reports of <strong>the</strong> wealthy yachtsmen whovisited Friedrich Ritter and Dore Strauch, <strong>the</strong> Baroness came to <strong>the</strong>Galapagos determined to build a grand luxury hotel for <strong>the</strong>se passingmillionaires. The hotel was to have been called Hacienda Paradiso.Although it has never been proven, <strong>the</strong> Baroness claimed to be related to<strong>the</strong> composers Liszt and Wagner, and also to have spent time as a spyin Constantinople during World War I. She and Lorenz owned aboutique toge<strong>the</strong>r in Paris, which <strong>the</strong>y gave up in order to seek <strong>the</strong>irfame and fortune on Floreana. It is believed that Lorenz provided <strong>the</strong>money for <strong>the</strong>ir trip and that Philippson had been a salesman in <strong>the</strong> Parisboutique.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!