Cinematographer Axel Schneppat chose Vantage One4s for Volker Schlöndorff's literary adaptation Heimsuchung - Visitation
Visitation (Heimsuchung - Eine Jahrhundertgeschichte) is a German-French drama directed by Volker Schlöndorff, filmed by Axel Schneppat. It is based on Jenny Erpenbeck's bestselling novel and had its world premiere at Cannes (Cannes Première) in May 2026. The film tells the story of a house on a lake near Berlin that becomes a silent witness to a century of German history.
Cinematographer Axel Schneppat shares how he approached the film:
"We shot Heimsuchung using the Sony Venice camera in a 3:2 aspect ratio. This allowed us to utilize the full, original image area of the classic 36x24 (3:2) Leica format for our film. With a ratio of 1.5, this format sits precisely between the classic Academy ratio (1.33) and the European widescreen standard (1.66). Furthermore, the camera offers high light sensitivity, making it ideally suited for improvised shooting using natural light—even during twilight. Combined with high-aperture lenses from Hawk, this created a distinctive photographic look characterized by optical precision and an aesthetic bokeh. For the production of Heimsuchung, the classic 35mm still-photography format proved to be the ideal choice for capturing our primary subject: the house by the lake."
The Vantage One4 lenses impressed us right from the very first test shots
"Our intention was to approach the cinematography as if we were hanging still photographs on a cinema screen. By blending the strengths of both the Academy and widescreen cinematic formats, this 35mm-style format allowed us to focus intently on faces and emotional nuances, free from distracting background elements.
In Heimsuchung, it facilitates both intimate, compelling close-up portraits and the evocative depiction of architecture and landscape."
"The Vantage One4 lenses impressed us right from the very first test shots. Their exceptional sharpness, combined with a creamy, cinematic bokeh, created a visual aesthetic that perfectly delivered the desired look—especially when paired with the highly light-sensitive sensors of the Sony Venice. The Sony Venice’s sensors are known for producing remarkably clean, sharp, and low-noise imagery. The lenses, meanwhile, intentionally introduce beautiful artifacts, particularly when shooting against the light or in out-of-focus areas. It was an ideal setup for capturing a place as evocative as this house by the lake, nestled deep within nature."
"We took a very documentary-style approach, requiring us to adapt quickly to the shifting lighting conditions. While this was perhaps a new experience for some of the crew, I personally value the combination of the Sony Venice with the Sony Rialto extension system. It makes working with heavier lenses much easier, as the camera body becomes simpler to mount when using the Rialto."
Visitation stars Lars Eidinger, Martina Gedeck, Ulrich Matthes, Michael Maertens and Susanne Wolff among others. It has been in German cinemas since 15 October and will be part of the Main Competition at Camerimage, taking place 7–14 November 2026 in Toruń, Poland.
Images: Behind the scenes images and clips: Axel Schneppat, Volksfilm/Ziegler Film. Still photography: Volksfilm/Ziegler Film. Making of film: Studiocanal/Arthaus
