Before Pablo Larrain's 'Maria,' There Was This Marlene Dietrich Doc

Story by Mark Peikert

Image from IndieWire

scrn logline

Larraín's 'Maria' draws inspiration from a gripping Marlene Dietrich documentary, offering a fresh take on the iconic actress's life and legacy.

beat sheet

Maximilian Schell's 1984 documentary on Dietrich, 'Marlene,' provided a blueprint for Larraín's approach to his own biopic, with its unflinching portrayal of the star's complex persona.
While 'Maria' centers on Dietrich's later years, Schell's film explored her earlier days in the Weimar Republic, shedding light on the formative experiences that shaped her iconic image.

call sheet

Pablo Larrain, Marlene Dietrich, Maximilian Schell, 'Maria', 'Marlene'