Documentary films sharpen our view of the world and strengthen our empathy – this is how the organizers of the renowned Dok.fest see it. Your program is varied – in the cinema or as a stream.
The Dok.fest in Munich has a political focus right from the start: the festival will open on Wednesday with the documentary “Navalny”, one day before the film is released in cinemas.
Director Daniel Roher describes the poison attack on Kremlin opponent Alexej Navalny and the consequences. It is an important film at the right time, the organizers write in the program booklet with a view to Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine.
Many other films are also politically influenced, such as “1970” about the events surrounding the bloody crackdown on protests against food cuts more than 50 years ago in Poland. “Europa Passage” shows the fate of several Roma over a period of five years who go begging in Hamburg so that they and their families can survive in Romania. And “After a Revolution” tells the story of a pair of siblings fighting for the future of their homeland in civil war-torn Libya.
Four films from Ukraine in the program
Four films from the Ukraine can also be seen, such as “Donbas Days”, the short portrait of a man who, after the Russian invasion in the east of the country, wants to give children a bit of joie de vivre with juggling lessons.
“Unterm Glanz” takes place in Germany and Poland – a story about a Lydia who works as a domestic help in Berlin in order to take care of her elderly mother and her sick brother at home in Poland. “Girl Gang”, on the other hand, takes a look at the exciting lives of young girls on Instagram. And it gets rhythmic with “Le Mali 70”: It looks for traces of the country’s big band scene, which delighted audiences with a mixture of Afro-Cuban jazz and traditional music. Films are also dedicated to the musical legends Cesária Évora and Thelonious Monk.
From May 4th to 15th, the festival will show 124 films from 55 countries in Munich cinemas, including Germany, Spain, South Africa, Poland, Scandinavia, Canada and the USA. Under the motto “@home”, the works will also be available digitally on demand from May 9th to 22nd. Tickets for cinema or stream cost 7.50 euros per performance. (dpa)