In the volunteer editorial team, Volunteers for Chemnitz 2025 publish reports on their experiences, assignments and adventures around the European Capital of Culture.
Irmgard, who is retired, has been dancing with the "Dancing Neighbours" since May 2024, has been involved in the volunteer programme since autumn 2024 and, as a member of a networking group, organised a meeting of senior citizens from Chemnitz's European twin cities here in the European Capital of Culture in September 2025. She really enjoys all the activities.
At the end of the Capital of Culture year, there will be another highlight on the Purple Path in Flöha. The entrance area of the Kulturbahnhof Flöha has been transformed into a cinema - all the windows are darkened, numerous rows of cosy sofas offer space for the audience and the wall surface above the passageway to the platforms serves as a projection screen for the main film.
The film comprises ten short sequences in which old traditional crafts and their Saxon producers are portrayed: the nutcracker maker, the shoemaker, the bandonion maker, the blue printer, the glove maker, the potter, the blacksmith, the paper maker, the writing utensil maker and the artificial flower maker. The filmmaker Donata Wenders spent a few days looking over their shoulders as they worked. In the film, she focuses primarily on the materials used and the skilful and precise hands of the craftspeople. Donata Wenders sees this film as an "audiovisual poem" that "sings the beauty of craftsmanship" - hence the film's title "Ode".
And indeed, the film succeeds in making the passion and lifeblood that every craftswoman and craftsman puts into their work tangible for the audience. And in my opinion, the film is also a passionate appeal to show craftsmanship in general the respect it deserves. All of us who have a nutcracker at home will now look at it with different eyes - now that we know that it takes around a week to complete such a good piece.
On the Sunday afternoon of 2 November 2025, the cinema is well attended and the rows are full. Many guests watch all ten sequences with interest - for around 1 ¼ hours after all. Some only linger for a short time, as there is a noticeable draught through the open doors of the entrance hall and it is quite chilly. There is an opportunity to warm up in the neighbouring bistro, even for us volunteers. Departing and arriving visitors pause in surprise, as they are not expecting a film screening in the entrance hall. The flyers about the Purple Path and the November programme did not go unnoticed either.
On my second visit on 5 November 2025, a weekday mind you, there were 13 curious cinema-goers during the lunchtime shift.
Other works by Donata Wenders - black-and-white shadow plays projected onto the walls next to the entrance door and a film about the handwritten biographies of members of the Moravian Church - also deserve and receive attention.
The cinema for these films, which are well worth seeing, is open until 2 December 2025; you are strongly advised to wear warm clothing.
