Bauhaus - A New Era

"Bauhaus - A New Era" is an intriguing and captivating TV show that first aired on Arte in 2019. Its intent is to take its viewers back to the dawn of the 20th century, shedding light on one of the most influential artistic movements of the modern era: Bauhaus. Set against the tumultuous backdrop of societal change and revolution in Germany, the show gives us glimpses into the fascinating beginnings of this avant-garde movement in architecture and design that came to shape the aesthetic principles of the 20th century.

The masterstroke of "Bauhaus - A New Era" is its seamless amalgamation of fact and fiction, executed in such a way that even those unfamiliar with the history of the Bauhaus would find themselves immersed in its narrative. The series takes care to balance history with the personal drama of its characters. As a result, the world of the Bauhaus school unfolds before the viewer not just as an abstract realm of innovative ideas and design theories but also as a vivid human ecosystem teeming with passions, idealism, disagreements, and personal struggle.

Set in 1919, the plot centers on the foundation of the Bauhaus school by the visionary architect Walter Gropius in Weimar, Germany. From the onset, the show depicts this institution as revolutionary – it aimed to redefine art, breaking down the barriers separating craft, architecture, and fine art, and integrating them all into a unified holistic vision of a new world order. However, the spotlight is perhaps most potently trained on the school's progressive ethos, its passionate drive for equality, and experimentation. Bauhaus was an early advocate for gender equity in the arts, going beyond the confined gender roles prevalent at that time.

In this context, the series' central character is not Gropius but a young woman named Dörte Helm, one of the first women to join the school. She is fictitious but represents the many real-world women who defied societal norms to become part of the Bauhaus. Her personal growth as an artist and her relationship with Gropius form the crux of the narrative, which unfolds against the background of the political and social upheaval of the time.

"Bauhaus - A New Era," is a vivid and relatable portrait of its characters who comprise students, teachers, and the administration of the Bauhaus. It is a festival of ideas, frequently bringing multiple perspectives into conversation – there are debates on form and function, passionate arguments on the role of art in society, and even minor squabbles that helps viewers to understand the zeitgeist that shaped the Bauhaus. While the series is ostensibly about art and design, it is also about more universal themes such as ambition, camaraderie, love, and compromise.

Visually, the series is a spectacular tribute to the Bauhaus aesthetic. The minimalist sets, striking geometrical lines, and a color palette influenced by the works of Bauhaus luminaries like Wassily Kandinsky, all serve to recreate the innovative visual style pioneered by this school. The production design doesn't just replicate Bauhaus architecture and design; it reinterprets them through a modern lens, creating a rich visual spectacle that's both authentic and contemporary.

Moreover, the performances in the series are nuanced and engaging. Anna Maria Mühe as Dörte Helm is particularly memorable, embodying the defiance and the struggle of a woman artist at a time of male dominance. She is well supported by a fantastic ensemble cast which includes, among others, August Diehl who brings depth and charisma to the figure of Gropius.

The series also contextualizes the Bauhaus movement within a range of sociopolitical factors, highlighting the school's struggle against conservative forces that resisted its revolutionary ideas and the pressure it faced during the rise of Nazism. This is a potent reminder of art's power to challenge established norms, reinforcing the contemporary relevance of the Bauhaus's story.

Overall, "Bauhaus - A New Era" is not only for those passionate about design or architecture but for anyone interested in compelling historical drama showcasing the meeting point between art and societal change. It's a show that brings the past to life in visually stunning and emotionally engaging ways, shedding light on the fascinating and often overlooked story of the Bauhaus School. Bolstered by an engrossing storyline and excellent performances, it is an enlightening watch and can be appreciated by all, art connoisseur or not.