Inventory

Synopsis

In Inventur – Metzstraße 11 (1975), Želimir Žilnik films residents—mostly immigrants—of a Munich tenement as they introduce themselves and their situations. With a fixed camera and minimal setup, each person defines their own narrative, challenging bureaucratic definitions of “inventory.” The film highlights individuality, housing exploitation, and the social realities of guest workers in 1970s Germany, turning a census-like setup into a powerful act of self-representation.

Directors' Biography

Želimir Žilnik (b. 1942, Novi Sad) is a prolific Serbian filmmaker with over 50 films shown at major festivals like Berlin, Toronto, and Rotterdam. Known for his socially engaged cinema, he has faced censorship for critiquing authority, while highlighting the lives of ordinary people.