Germany, 2016, 93 min., Director: Philip Scheffner
Discussion follows with director Philip Scheffner
Out in the Mediterranean Sea, a few dozen miles off the Spanish coast, the blurred silhouette of a refugee boat is visible. Seen by passengers on the cruise liner Adventures of the Seas, the frail little skiff full of people drifts in the distance. An amateur video made by one of the cruise ship passengers captures how misfortune takes its course. The camera zooms in and out but the scenario remains indistinct.
Using a few minutes of this eyewitness video, the German director
Philip Scheffner created his film Havarie. By slowing down the blurred recording and stretching each sequence in time, the direness of the situation gains sharpness. The accompanying soundtrack offers an ambitiously textured, multilingual account of the historical and cultural forces that gave rise to this confluence of participants and witnesses of this moment. Scheffner’s film allows the viewer to step back and discover the full complexity, and tragedy, associated with a brief picture caught at sea.
The Goethe-Institut Wahshington will host a reading and discussion of the maritime thriller
Collision with author Merle Kröger on October 9.
Presented as part of the festival
Films Across Borders: Stories of Migration, showcasing inspiring stories of courage, hope, and determination. International voices and perspectives are portrayed via dramatic features, documentaries and shorts. Despite tremendous challenges, immigrants and refugees are often able to overcome and even prosper. Discover the provocative tales of those who strike out for a new life – facing uncertainty, deprivation, and new and often confusing cultures and dangers – as their determination and a longing for a more peaceful life or in some cases, reunion with beloved family members, propel them to migrate. Through panel events and post-screening discussions, experts will engage with the audience to answer questions and further explore the issues.
Films Across Borders: Stories of Migration is presented by AFI Silver Theater and Cultural Center; American University School of Communication and College of Arts and Sciences; the National Gallery of Art; the DC LaborFest; the Immigration Film Fest; the Cultural Services of the French Embassy; the Goethe-Institut; the Mexican Cultural Institute and SPAIN Arts & Culture.
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