VIDEO STATION: GRANDCHILDREN's QUESTIONS

GRANDCHILDREN’s QUESTIONS [EXISTENZ ENKEL]
A video station + documentary film by Alexandra Reill
continuing the work of coming to terms with NS-past in Vienna

As part of the Südwind Festival taking place in Vienna in the courtyard of the Old General Hospital on May 29th 2010, the film maker Alexandra Reill asks people questions which perhaps still are not often enough. The film maker researches the specific history of Vienna: in the interviews held, she examines relationships between contemporary xenophobia and historical traces of fascist or fascistoid identity in a Viennese 'majority' society by not only interviewing people on their opinions on integration and interculturalism but also posing a personal question: which "stories" from the Nazi era the family passed down to offspring?

This question leads far: How common are traditional myths of denial of active naziship or opportunism still today? Are there regularities in the repetition of standard answers and, if so, which? What are the connections with today's everyday racism, and how do such traces contribute to today's xenophobia? What is current status of consciousness regarding interculturalism and multiculturalism?

Alexandra Reill, in a number of projects, i.e. the tour against everyday racism REAL ONES ALWAYS SURVIVE or WOULD WE SAY NO ? with which she and a team of cultural and social workers toured almost all "workers’" districts of Vienna, has led dozens of conversations with people on the subject. She learned one thing: the more myths of Naziship denial are hidden the stronger they affect so many obstacles in the context of interculturalism and integration. The more they lay hidden because having passed on to the next generation the stronger they can live on.

Alexandra Reill’s video installation at the Südwind Festival creates the opportunity to unveil such myths of denial that are potentially undetected and classified as "normal" - by talking about the myths, the past and what was passed down.

The results of the talks the film maker shows in a documentary:

GRANDCHILDREN’s QUESTIONS is premiered on Tuesday, 22 June 2010 in a matinee at 10:30 AM in the conference room of the district council of 1090 Vienna, Währinger Straße 43. The head of the district council Martina Malyar speaks the welcoming and opening words. After the screening, Alexandra Reill is available for questions and discussion. The roundtable which wants to turn especially to school groups is moderated by Gilda Horvath from the ORF editorial department for ethnic questions. A second screening followed by a round of talks takes place on Wednesday, 23 June 2010 at 7:00 PM. This evening is also opened by the head of the district council Martina Malyar and moderated by Gilda Horvath. At both events, admission is free.

Press contact and further inquiries
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kanonmedia, ngo for new media
Alexandra Reill
call: + +43 [0] 6991 820 70 03, mail to: [email protected]
write to: 12/24 richter alley, a 1070 vienna, visit: http://www.kanonmedia.com
For the download of print photos in high resolution please visit: http://www.kanonmedia.com/portfolio/films/ex.html
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