This is the third in a series of films by Yann Arthus-Bertrand in which people are asked fundamental questions and give their responses, this time on such matters as happiness, education, disability, immigration, corruption and the meaning of life.
I am not sure if the refugee crisis had already begun when these films were edited, but some of the testimonies really provide a poignant reminder of why people are seeking refuge away from their land of birth, as one says (about Afghanistan): it is not a country, it is a killing field.
Once again, I felt a little uneasy with the way we are sometimes positioned as voyeurs in the sharing of some of these stories. I can only presume that the people involved knew – and actively wanted – their stories to reach others, as indeed one of the interviewees says.
The films are a remarkable showcase, and as some of the interviews are being published as vignettes on their youtube site, I may make my own collection in a playlist and embed them here later.
Below the main film I also include an overview by the film maker in which he discusses what he was aiming at, and what his methods were in making these films.
if the video does not appear on the page, please first try reloading the page, and if that doesn’t work, leave a comment so I can update the page (the comment is not published)
if the video does not appear on the page, please first try reloading the page, and if that doesn’t work, leave a comment so I can update the page (the comment is not published)
to see an album of stills click here