FACTS
creative documentary
2021
98 minutes
English, French, Dutch
Film Fest Gent (2021, BE)
When we’re out of words, the body takes over.
So far the dancers Bérengrère Bodin, Samir M'Kirech and TK Russell agree, when you ask them: why are we fighting? Based on their personal experiences, they look for the why of violence around them in the world, but also the violence in themselves. How do you deal with fear, frustration and disappointment in today's world, where you feel unheard or misunderstood? Is it at all possible to act in a non-violent way? Or is that privilege reserved for those who create dance, music, art or words?
With their film Why We Fight? Alain Platel and Mirjam Devriendt pay tribute to the arts, but also to humanity, that always seems to balance between creating something spectacularly beautiful or horribly cruel.
DIRECTORS
Alain Platel
Platel is an autodidact director, who has 30 years of experience in theatre and dance. A selection of his pieces are: C(H)OEURS (2012, upon request of Gerard Mortier) , Gardenia (2010, together with Frank Van Laecke), Out Of Context – for Pina (2010), and Nicht Schlafen (2016) and Requiem pour L (2018).
In France, Platel was made Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres de la République Française in 2001 and again Commandeur de l’Orde des Arts et des Lettres in 2015. In the UK, Platel receives Time Out Live Award in 2001. In Belgium, Platel receives the Flemish Culture Prize for General Cultural Merit in 2015, in 2016 the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Ghent and the Gold Medal of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and Art.
Platel entered the arena of the dance film together with the British director Sophie Fiennes with the films ‘Because I Sing’ in 2001, ‘Ramallah!Ramallah!Ramallah!’ in 2005 and ‘VSPRS Show and Tell’ in 2007. In 2006, he directed the documentary ‘de balletten en ci en la’ (110 mins), in coproduction with Arte France.
Mirjam Devriendt
In collaboration with internationally renowned artist Berlinde De Bruyckere, photographer Mirjam Devriendt has created numerous video installations for opera and art exhibitions, notably for La Monnaie (Penthesilea - directed by Pierre Audi - 2015), Holland Festival Mariavespers - directed by Pierre Audi - 2017), Het Vlot - Ostend (Penthesilea, 2015-2017 - curator Jan Fabre), And You Must Suffer – Muziektheater Transparant and B’Rock Orchestra (2015). In 2017, Devriendt presented a series of photos and a video installation at the Dr. Guislain Museum in Ghent as part of the ‘The Alzheimer Code ’project.