Die Liebe in den Zeiten der EU

Die Liebe in den Zeiten der EU

Die Liebe in den Zeiten der EU

[Love in the age of the EU]

SUMMARY (Director’s Interpretation)
Sometimes, we are like marionettes in the hands of those whom we have either consciously or
unconsciously chosen to please.
A visual adaptation of the poem “Die Liebe in den Zeiten der EU” by the German poet Björn Kuhligk.
More below the video

 

Each time during the ZEBRA Poetry Film Festival, the Haus für Poesie Berlin sends out poems to film makers and asks them to interpret them visually.
This piece was done in the same constellation in 2014 and took the first place out of all the entries.

MAIN CREDITS
Poem: Björn Kuhligk
Script/ Direction/Animation: Ebele Okoye
Sound Design / Production Germany: Ebele Okoye
Producer Nigeria: Shrinkfish Ltd.
Year of Production: 2014
Language: German with English Subtitles


SCREENINGS
– 7. ZEBRA Poetry film Festival Berlin; Oct 2014
– Special Selection (Panorama 2) FILMFEST DRESDEN 2015
– International Film Festival of Lanzarote (FICL) 2015
– International Short Film Festival Tabor, 2015
– Africa Internationa Film Festival, Lagos, 2015
– Bogotá International Film Festival for Human Rights , 2015
– Calpabio Cinema , 2015
– Internacional de Experimentación CINETORO, 2015
– Afrikafest Leuwen, 2015
– Västerås Filmfestival, 2016
– Afrykamera Poland, 2016
– XIII Shortfilms Against Racism, Madrid, 2016
– 8ª Festival Internacional de Experimentación CINETORO, Colombia 2016
– 8ª Festival International de Cine Invisible, Film Sozialak, Bilbao, 2016

POEM TRANSCRIPT -German & English

“Die Liebe in den Zeiten der EU”
//Original German text by Björn Kuhligk//

Wie ein Grenzschutz wieder
eine Linie zieht, das muß, es
darf geschossen werden, das
muß, das darf gefilmt werden

wie erdfremd dieser Kontinent
mit Sternchen am Revers, wie der
die Abwehr aufbaut, Mutti macht
noch schnell den Abwasch

als im Süden die ersten Turnschuhe
angespült wurden, später zwei, drei
Zweibeiner gefischt wurden, das muß
es darf zurückgefeuert werden

© Berlin Verlag
Published: 2005, Berlin Verlag
ISBN: 3-8270-0584-1

“Love In The Age Of The EU”
//English Translation by Catherine Hales//

As a border patrolman draws
a line again, shooting is necessary,
is permitted, filming
is necessary, is permitted

how unworldly this continent
with little stars on its lapels, how it
builds up its defences, Mummy
quickly does the washing up

when the first sneakers were washed
up in the south, later two, three bipeds
were fished out, firing back
is necessary, is permitted

Meine Heimat

Meine Heimat

MEINE HEIMAT

A visual adaptation and personal interpretation of the poem “meine heimat” by the German Poet Ulrike Almut Sandig.

INFORMATION:
Each time during the ZEBRA Poetry Film festival, the Literaturwerkstatt Berlin sends out poems to film makers and asks them to interpret them visually.
This piece was done in the same constellation in 2012

SYNOPSIS
Berlin Tempelhof, years after 2017: an old woman in the face of advanced recreational activities at the old
airport grounds confusedly recalls her growing-up years and life in a post war Berlin.

BACKGROUND
The old Tempelhof Airport, one of Europe’s iconic pre-world war II airports ceased operating in 2008 . Since then it is being used for recreational activities like windsurfing, kiting etc.
However, before the Airport was built in the mid twenties, it was a vast farmland which played a big role in the life of the inhabitants of Tempelhof. It was the center of their sunday recreational activitieswhich included dog-races etc.

Today, in 2012, the city of Berlin plans to restructure the landscape of the old airport ground and install very modern recreational facilities and one of these is a hill (hence the interpretation of the “bird man” sport )
So conclusively, only MOSTLY people from Berlin will be able to understand it beyond the presented visual abstract, thus making this remain predominantly a Berlin-related interpretation.

PRODUCTION NOTES
Format: DVD, Digital Files
Ratio: 16:9
Image: Black & White /Color
Length: 05:00 Mins
Technique: 2D/3D Animation
Language: German (English Subtitles)
Countries of Production: Nigeria / Germany/
Year of Production: 2012

MAIN CREDIT LIST
Poem: Ulrike Almut sandig
Script: Ebele Okoye
Director: Ebele Okoye
Music: Istomin Stoganov & Sound Stake Music
Sound Design: Ebele Okoye
Animation: Ebele Okoye
Producer Nigeria: Shrinkfish Ltd.
Producer Germany: Ebele Okoye

SCREENINGS/AWARDS
No screenings yet (stand : 18.06.2012)

FILMOGRAPHY OF DIRECTOR/CO-PRODUCER
2012: Meine Heimat (Germany/ Nigeria) 05:00 Min, 2D/3D Animation (Director/Coproducer)
2011: Footy My Love (Nigeria/Germany/Denmark) 07:00 Min, 2D Animation/Video Art (Director/Coproducer)
2010: The Essence (Nigeria /Germany) 05:30 min. , 2D Animation (Director/Coproducer)
2009: Anna Blume (Germany/Bulgaria) 09:00 mins. 2D Animation (Producer/Co script writer/Animator)
2009: Patterns (Nigeria /Germany) 10:00 mins. 2D Animation (Director/Coproducer)
2008: Papermouse (Germany) 02:30 mins. 2D Animation (Director/Coproducer)
2007: Die Verrückte ‘The Lunatic’ (Germany) 05:00 mins. 2D Animation (Director/Coproducer)