„Two at the Border“ – in presence of the directors! 25 November 2015

by pistrick

Media and the Ethics in Times of Crisis – Approaches from Film Studies, Photography and Ethnology: This series organized by Ciné-Ethnographie team and supported by the Max-Planck-Institute for Social Anthropology and the Department Musicology, Institute for Music, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg shows three documentaries which approach ethical questions about how the medial representation of crisis situations takes shape within the wider discourse on crises in Europe. Greece and the financial crisis, Syria and refugees, Islam and the European Union – these topics were taken up by popular media and are actively shaping notions of inclusion, exclusion and a Europe in Crisis. Apart from the popular discourse, how do anthropologists and film makers alternatively approach, process and visualise such topics? In the last session of this series we show the award-winning documentary “Two at the Border”. After the screening, there will be room for questions on the project and a general discussion with the filmmakers.

25.11.2015
18:00–19:30 „Two at the Border“ (2013),

Tuna Kaptan & Felicitas Sonvilla 30 min
Venue: Max-Planck-Institute for Social Anthropology,

Main Seminar Room,

Advokatenweg 36, Halle/Saale

Ali and Naser are two young Arabs, a Syrian and a Palestinian, respectively. Based in the Turkish city of Edirne, they help refugees cross the border into Greece. Recently, most of these refugees have been from Ali’s native Syria, mostly men who are trapped between a government army that makes them shoot civilians and rebel groups that hunt down the soldiers. European authorities are working hard to patrol the border, part of which runs along a river. And because more and more manpower and means are being employed to stop the flow of refugees, this human trafficking is growing more dangerous and complicated each day. Filmmakers Tuna Kaptan and Felicitas Sonvilla follow the two men from close up as they hang around their apartment, smoke, chat about their families at home (where they might just return one day), and prepare their missions to get their clients out of Turkey. The camera also accompanies them on a trip to the border. Ultimately, it all looks pretty abysmal for both the men and their clients alike, as far fewer of these refugees are making it into Greece.