In development · Documentary trilogy
AFTER
Past, present, future: three films asking what role poetry plays in times of catastrophe – and how art helps us walk through the fire.
The trilogy
Poetry destroys silence
While making the first film, in which contemporary poets confront the Holocaust, the team realised that a film about the past demanded a trilogy.
Part I looks at the past, Part II at our present, Part III at the future. Each poem becomes its own cinematic island – carried by Lisa Rinzler’s cinematography, evocative sound design and music. A hybrid form between documentary, acting, poetry and performance.
Part I · The past · Completed
AFTER: POETRY DESTROYS SILENCE
With Academy Award winner Melissa Leo, Géza Röhrig (Son of Saul) and Bo Corre. Named one of the best films of 2024 by RogerEbert.com and awarded Best Feature Documentary at the 2025 Montreal Independent Film Festival; Official Selection, Miami Jewish Film Festival 2025.
North America: The North American territory has been sold to Grasshopper Film.
Other territories: Please send enquiries to oliver.mahrdt@gmail.com
Trailer
AFTER: POETRY DESTROYS SILENCE
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Part II · The present · In development
AFTER II: POETRY OF NOW AND RESILIENCE
War, displacement, climate change, the promise and peril of AI: poems from around the world – from Syria, Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, Haiti, Ireland, Africa and America – meet our present head-on, raw and full of hope. A film about human resilience and the power of creativity in times of chaos.
“What matters most is how well you walk through the fire.” – Charles Bukowski
90 minutes · Colour and black & white
Part III · The future · In planning
AFTER III: POETRY OF THE PROMISE AND PERIL OF THE FUTURE
Poets encounter a future in which science fiction becomes reality at great speed – robots, genetic engineering, artificial intelligence. What will it still mean to be human, and what role will poetry play?
AFTER II team
- Director: Richard Kroehling – two-time Emmy Award winner
- Producers: Janet R. Kirchheimer, Oliver Mahrdt
- Producer & Casting: Eve Pomerance
- Co-Producer: Irwin Kula
- Cinematography: Lisa Rinzler – Emmy and Independent Spirit Award winner
Let’s talk about your project.
Co-production, licensing or consulting – we look forward to hearing from you.