HONORABLE MENTION in the Stefan Jarl International Award category at this year’s edition of the Tempo documentary festival. The film can be seen on Draken film 12 March at 10.00 – 23.59. Buy your online 24-hour pass at Draken Film.
This found footage film is composed entirely of often-shocking videos that Russian teenagers have posted on social media. Innocent morning rituals on YouTube or TikTok have been placed next to shots of panicking young people fleeing school shooters. And students all over Russia are apparently secretly recording images of violent teachers who can’t keep their hands to themselves. In class they are told that a woman must have sex with her husband whenever he wants; furthermore, students are called idiots and are beaten. One critical teenager is threateningly told that a report will be made about her political views.
The mobile phone forms a kind of shield between the young people and this brutal world, turning them into not only observers but also accusers. However extreme the events, they keep filming. Manifesto is a dark mosaic, cumulatively disturbing, and culminating in a horrifying ending. The film shows how aggression and oppression are unwittingly passed on to the next generation. Manifesto was awarded best film in the Envision Competition at IDFA last autumn.
Viewer discretion is advised
Saturday 11 March, 14.00, Biblioteket Live – Arkivet, DIA, followed by panel talk discussion on the themes of Russian youth culture, fear as cultural expression and documentary montage methods.
Panel participants:
Helena Hörnfeldt, associate professor in ethnology who have worked on the project Rädslor i Rörelse. Barns rädslor som kulturell och historisk praktik.
Stefan Ingvarsson, Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies and former culture attaché at the Swedish Embassy in Moscow.
Rebecka Bülow, film- and litterature critic.
Sunday 12 March, 15.15, Victoria 4. Screening only.
IDFA 2022 | Trailer | Manifesto from IDFA on Vimeo.