Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965): ficción y reconstrucción histórica en el cine

Abstract

The 1952 Nobel Peace Prize granted to Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) meant not only an acknowledgement of his altruistic work in Africa but also implied his development into a global public figure. His influence covered a wide range of fields (theologian, philosopher, musician, physician). In the context of the cold war and the menace of a nuclear war, he advocated for a universal concept of ethics and the “Reverence for life”. His life was very soon object of dramatisations, both in film and theatre plays, often openly apologetically. Following the decolonization and the fall of real socialism, his figure has been revisited in a number of films. However, many of these modern dramatisations tend to focus on thencurrent concerns and disregard the contradictions and limitations of Albert Schweitzer. The biopic is a genre where the freedom of scriptwriters and directors prevail, and where those specific events that may be most appealing to the public are emphatically portrayed. The documentary film, intended to enhance the image of the person, has given way to other approaches, where a number of Schweitzer acquaintances provide a more clear and corroborated picture of his complex personality.