Shade Guzzling

SYNOPSIS

Anke Ames’ attitude towards life is loving: people, music, ideas. That was the way, the violist, author und drawing artist found her center. Her last hospital residence was a couple of years ago. The doctors call it a bipolar disorder. Anke herself describes her mission as “shade guzzling”.

A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR

“Shade guzzling” is an experiment, a portrait of Anke Ames, improvisational artist with bipolar disorder. The focus was on linking her art to her mental illness, told in images that defy stereotype. Anke’s last hospital stay was several years ago. The doctors call it a bipolar disorder, Anke herself describes her task as eating shadows. She absorbs everything negative, from the others and transforms it into art. This role drives her into depression or mania, which could be something very beautiful for the artist, were it not intoxication. In self-penned texts and with improvised music, she gives us a glimpse into a life marked by extreme feelings – not uncommon among artists.