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