Deffarge/Troeller

French-born Marie-Claude Deffarge (1924-1984) and Luxembourgian Gordian Troeller (1917-2003) collaborated as freelance journalists from the 1950s until Deffarange’s premature death. Initially, they reported mainly from the Middle East, later from all over the world. In the 1960s, the German weekly news magazine stern commissioned them with major features on foreign countries. At the same time, they began their first joint film projects; from the 1970s onwards, film documentaries became the focus of their work. Deffarge / Troeller were renowned for their well-researched reportages. They rarely reported in neutral manner, but remained deterred by criticism of their critical analyses of prevailing power structures or the role of the church.

This first comprehensive book on the work Deffarge and Troeller focuses on the stern features and the film work. It is lavishly illustrated with photos, entire features and film previews, dummies for books, contact sheets, film stills and scripts as well as various documents. The supplementing essays explores the duo's entire work and approach, and its reception. Thus, the volume highlights what makes Deffarge / Troeller’s journalism an essential contribution to a better understanding of world events, even in the present day.

Text in English and German.

Museum Folkwang, founded in 1897 and based in Essen since 1922, is one of Germany's foremost art museums, holding fine collections of painting and sculpture from early modernism to contemporary, archaeology and world art, as well as photography, graphic and poster art. Founded in 1989, the Centre national de l'audiovisuel (CNA) in Dudelange preserves and promotes Luxembourg's audiovisual heritage through exhibitions, screenings and publications.