Visual Encounters - Day 1

Why do we say “I see” when we wish to express understanding? Do we understand that what we see is often an expression of someone’s perspective?

Evoking the qualities of presence and feeling we invite you to the second edition of “Visual Encounters”. A film screening created by Visual Anthropology students of the Masters program at the University of Amsterdam for 2023-2024. On the 3rd, 4th and 6th of November at the Ventilator cinema of OT301 we will show 21 graduate films.

As more and more visual information consumes our world and views, we ask questions that seek critical awareness and our collective capacity to express it. Our hope is that our films yield a space for discussion and learning.

SESSION 1 | BETWEEN MAPS AND WORLDS

14:00 - 15:15 (followed by a Q&A)

IN FOCUS - OUT OF PLACE

(Timo Boer, 2024, 37‘)

SPIEGEL-ZEE

(Lola Rogaar, 2024, 35‘)

The session “Between Maps and Worlds” explores the balance between control and letting go in both physical and intellectual journey. In In Focus, Out of Place, the filmmaker navigates the challenges of being both a thru-hiker and a researcher on New Zealand’s Te Araroa long distance trail, grappling with the unpredictability of the wilderness and the research process. The film is about walking, falling, getting up, losing the way, failing and reaching new heights. Spiegel-Zee draws parallels between the unpredictable relationship people in Itacaré, Brazil have towards the sea and the filmmaker’s own experience as a first-time researcher in the field. Both films investigate the tension between control and surrender, using these journey to reflect on failure, adaptation, and discovery in life and research.

SESSION 2 | INDONESIAN ENCOUNTERS: SPIRITUAL CREATIONS AND THE ANTHROPOLOGIST

15:30 - 17:00 (followed by a Q&A)

HAUNTING STORIES WITHOUT HUNTING GHOSTS: EXPLORING SPIRITUAL NARRATIVES IN INDONESIA‘S NEW CAPITAL

(Yuefei You, 2024, 47‘)

DE LUXE VAN OVERGAVE [THE LUXURY OF SURRENDER]

(Roos van Leerdam, 2024, 43‘)

In this session, the two films give two different perspectives on spirituality, colonialism and the modern world in contemporary Indonesia. In the first film, Haunting Stories Without Hunting Ghosts:Exploring Spiritual Narratives in Indonesia‘s New Capital, a Chinese anthropology student investigates the supernatural stories emerging around the construction of Indonesia‘s new capital in Borneo. Through letters to her deceased mother, the researcher explores the complex relationships between the living and the dead, local spirits, and national politics, raising questions about the spiritual cost of this development project. The second film, De Luxe van Overgave [The Luxery of Surrender] offers a critical perspective on women’s circles in Bali, organised by Western women. Through the filmmaker’s personal journey, viewers are invited to reflect on the commodification of „divine femininity“ and the impact of spiritual tourism on local Balinese communities. Together, these films examine how spirituality influences and is influenced by power dynamics, colonial legacies, and the search for identity in a rapidly changing Indonesia.

SESSION 3 | CROSSING BORDERS, BUILDING LIVES

17:15 - 18:45 (followed by a Q&A)

ROLLING DICE IN A GAME OF CHESS

(Roslin Syed Sirajudeen, 2024, 43‘)

THE MIKHTAR‘ CHAIR

(Wael Kadlou, 2024, 40‘)

This session features two compelling films that explore the complex realities of migration, displacement, and resilience. Rolling Dice in a Game of Chess is situated in Nicosia, Cyprus, and explores the dreams of South Asian migrant men, the culture of migration, and the act of ‚harrage‘ (‚to burn borders‘ in Arabic). These men find themselves rollling dice in socio-political systems that is set against their proliferation, hoping for luck to strike in a game where they don‘t have access to the rules of play. The Mukhtar’s Chair shifts focus to the story of Saleh and his family, living in Leiden, The Netherlands, having fled the war in Syria in search of safety. As they strive to adapt to their new life, Saleh keeps his home open to everyone as a pillar of support for his community offering advice and assistance, earning him the nickname „Al-Mukhtar“ (The Chosen One) among them. Both films highlight the strength of individuals and communities in the face of dislocation, and the ongoing search for belonging and stability, in unfamiliar lands.

SESSION 4 | LIFE AND DEATH IN THE FACE OF COLONIALISM

19:00 - 20:30 (followed by a Q&A)

IN AL SAYYIDAH ZAYNAB‘S WAKE: THE AFTERLIFE OF A SACRIFICE

(Rand Chmaitilly, 2024, 37‘)

LISTENING PALESTINE LISTENING HOME

(Christopher Hausler, 2024, 50‘)

Two filmmakers, moved and angered by the ongoing genocide in Gaza, go back to their hometowns to confront the impact of Israeli colonialism through personal and collective narratives. In Al Sayyida Zaynab’s Wake: The Afterlife of a Sacrifice, explores the legacy of Hezbollah martyrs, focusing on the experiences of the women who stayed to live this loss. Set against the backdrop of the ongoing Israeli war on Lebanon, the documentary weaves together the past and present linking the 1,600-year-old battle of Karbala with modern-day resistance. Listening Palestine Listening Home shifts focus to the Palestinian diaspora, examining the fragmented lives of four individuals in a town called Little Palestine in the US. Struggling with the disconnect between their lived realities and the horrors unfolding in their homeland, these diaspora members grapple with the pain of witnessing violence from afar. Through a blend of testimonies and dialogue, the film challenges the audience to reflect on the act of listening amid the spectacle of violence and complicity.

OPEN CONVERSATION ON THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF FILMMAKERS AND ANTHROPOLOGISTS

20:30 - 22:00

In this special session, we explore the power of media and filmmaking in shedding light on the personal and the collective stories emerging from the ongoing war in Gaza and Lebanon.

How can film shape our understanding of these historical events, and how do we, as spectators, participate in this moment? What role do filmmakers play in bringing these realities to global consciousness, and how can we articulate our concerns, anger, and hopes through the medium of cinema? Join us for the Session Life and Death in the Face of Colonialism followed by an open conversation about the intersection of art, activism, and witnessing and tap into the urgency of taking agency.