Das Wilde Leben
Encyclopedia
Das Wilde Leben is a German biographical motion picture, set in the 1960s and depicting the "wild life" of Uschi Obermaier
, a German groupie
.
in Berlin after being with the krautrock
band, Amon Düül
. In the Kommune, she becomes friendly with Rainer Langhans. The young woman from Munich gains employment as a model, and becomes a sex symbol
and youth icon. Now a cover girl in Playboy
magazine, she meets rock stars such as Mick Jagger
and Keith Richards
, while Italian film producer, Carlo Ponti
, offers her a ten-year contract, but she declines: her freedom is more important than a contract.
During her intensive relationship with Keith Richards, she begins to recognize the dark side of the shiny glamour world she lives in: the isolation of the stars, and the groupie-populated milieux of anonymous hotel rooms — this is not her idea of life.
She finds new freedom in a relationship with the adventurer Dieter Bockhorn (David Scheller). They fall in love and go on a six-year road trip around the world. Later, Bockhorn dies in a motorcycle accident in Mexico.
and Natalia Avelon
recorded a cover version of the Nancy Sinatra
/Lee Hazelwood song Summer Wine
for the soundtrack. A music video was also shot, featuring Valo and Avelon with the real Uschi Obermaier.
Uschi Obermaier
Uschi Obermaier is a former fashion model, actress and is associated with the 1968 left-wing movement in Germany. In the latter she is considered an iconic sex symbol of the so-called "1968 generation"....
, a German groupie
Groupie
A groupie is a person who seeks emotional and sexual intimacy with a musician or other celebrity. "Groupie" is derived from group in reference to a musical group, but the word is also used in a more general sense, especially in casual conversation....
.
Synopsis
Obermaier enjoyed sexual freedom at the legendary Kommune 1Kommune 1
Kommune 1 or K1 was the first politically-motivated commune in Germany. It was created on January 12, 1967, in West Berlin and finally dissolved in November 1969....
in Berlin after being with the krautrock
Krautrock
Krautrock is a generic name for the experimental music scenes that appeared in Germany in the late 1960s and gained popularity throughout the 1970s, especially in Britain. The term is a result of the English-speaking world's reception of the music at the time and not a reference to any one...
band, Amon Düül
Amon Düül
-External links:* - Extensive bio @ Perfect Sound Forever* mainly focussed on their collaboration with Robert Calvert of Hawkwind...
. In the Kommune, she becomes friendly with Rainer Langhans. The young woman from Munich gains employment as a model, and becomes a sex symbol
Sex symbol
A sex symbol is a celebrity of either gender, typically an actor, musician, supermodel, teen idol, or sports star, noted for their sex appeal. The term was first used in the mid 1950s in relation to the popularity of certain Hollywood stars, especially Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte...
and youth icon. Now a cover girl in Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
magazine, she meets rock stars such as Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
and Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
, while Italian film producer, Carlo Ponti
Carlo Ponti
Carlo Ponti was an Italian film producer with over 140 production credits, and the husband of Italian movie star Sophia Loren.-Career:...
, offers her a ten-year contract, but she declines: her freedom is more important than a contract.
During her intensive relationship with Keith Richards, she begins to recognize the dark side of the shiny glamour world she lives in: the isolation of the stars, and the groupie-populated milieux of anonymous hotel rooms — this is not her idea of life.
She finds new freedom in a relationship with the adventurer Dieter Bockhorn (David Scheller). They fall in love and go on a six-year road trip around the world. Later, Bockhorn dies in a motorcycle accident in Mexico.
Cast
- Natalia AvelonNatalia AvelonNatalia Avelon is a Polish-German actress and singer.-Early life:Natalia Avelon was born Natalia Siwek on 29 March 1980 in Wrocław, Poland...
as Uschi ObermaierUschi ObermaierUschi Obermaier is a former fashion model, actress and is associated with the 1968 left-wing movement in Germany. In the latter she is considered an iconic sex symbol of the so-called "1968 generation".... - Matthias SchweighöferMatthias SchweighöferMatthias Schweighöfer is a German actor. He is sometimes credited as Matthias Schweighofer.Born in Anklam, East Germany, Schweighöfer attended the renowned acting school Hochschule für Schauspielkunst "Ernst Busch", but dropped out after one year...
as Rainer Langhans - Victor NorénVictor NorénVictor Norén is a Swedish singer and songwriter for the pop-rock band Sugarplum Fairy .He was born on September 19, 1985 in Borlänge and is the youngest of the 3 Norén brothers....
(singer of the Swedish band Sugarplum FairySugarplum FairySugarplum Fairy is a pop-rock band from Borlänge, Sweden. The members took the name from a version of the Beatles' song "A Day in the Life" where John Lennon counts the song in by saying "sugar-plum-fairy, sugar-plum-fairy"...
) as Mick JaggerMick JaggerSir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones.... - Alexander Scheer as Keith RichardsKeith RichardsKeith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
- David SchellerDavid SchellerDavid Scheller is a German actor.Since the early nineties he appeared in many German TV- and film productions and also participated in a few international movies like Fay Grim or Extreme Ops...
as Dieter Bockhorn.
Production crew
- Directed by Achim Bornhak.
- Writing credits Achim Bornhak, Olaf Kraemer.
- Based on the book High Times (book) by Olaf Kraemer and Uschi ObermaierUschi ObermaierUschi Obermaier is a former fashion model, actress and is associated with the 1968 left-wing movement in Germany. In the latter she is considered an iconic sex symbol of the so-called "1968 generation"....
Filming locations
- Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Bavaria in Germany
- Goa, Jaipur, and Rajasthan in India
Soundtrack
Ville ValoVille Valo
Ville Hermanni Valo is a Finnish singer, songwriter and frontman of the Finnish rock band HIM. He has received the "Golden God" award in 2004 by the heavy metal magazine Metal Hammer. Valo has a baritone vocal range. Valo was ranked number 80 in Hit Paraders Top 100 Metal Vocalists of All Time...
and Natalia Avelon
Natalia Avelon
Natalia Avelon is a Polish-German actress and singer.-Early life:Natalia Avelon was born Natalia Siwek on 29 March 1980 in Wrocław, Poland...
recorded a cover version of the Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sandra Sinatra is an American singer and actress. She is the daughter of singer/actor Frank Sinatra, and remains best known for her 1966 signature hit "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"....
/Lee Hazelwood song Summer Wine
Summer Wine
"Summer Wine" is a song written by Lee Hazlewood. It was originally sung by Suzi Jane Hokom and Lee Hazlewood in 1966, but it was made famous by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood in 1967. This version was originally released as the B-side of "Sugar Town" the previous year, before featuring on the...
for the soundtrack. A music video was also shot, featuring Valo and Avelon with the real Uschi Obermaier.