Oscar Nominee Joshua Oppenheimer Worries His ‘Home Country Is Becoming a Dictatorship’ But It’s Not ‘The End’ Just Yet: ‘Above You, There’s Still a Sky’

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American filmmaker Joshua Oppenheimer, residing in Denmark currently, expresses concern that his native land might be evolving into a dictatorship.

It’s yet uncertain. The query we all grapple with, individually, is this: ‘Have we waited too long?’ He urged everyone to lift their gaze and recognize that the expanse above them remains a sky,” he stated during Sweden’s Göteborg Film Festival on Sunday.

When learning about the genocide in Gaza, which deeply saddens me since it’s carried out under the banner of my religion as a Jew, when we hear about thousands perishing yearly in the Mediterranean Sea, fleeing unbearable conditions we contribute to by keeping our goods affordable… It leaves us momentarily sorrowful, and we often respond with empathetic emoticons.

By adding that emotional touch with the use of that emoji, we’re effectively passing on any need for additional action. Instead, we retreat from the distressing scene we’ve just observed and take shelter in our protective shell. Is there still a chance for us to act like this?

Under the direction of Oppenheimer, known for the Oscar-nominated documentaries “The Act of Killing” and “The Look of Silence”, a new project titled “The End” was undertaken. This production features musical elements and boasts an impressive cast that includes Tilda Swinton, who also serves as a producer alongside Oppenheimer and Signe Byrge Sørensen. The ensemble also comprises George MacKay, Moses Ingram, and Michael Shannon.

Originally, it was planned for him to create a new document focusing on affluent individuals taking advantage of countries that feared them.

Individuals who seemingly committed atrocious acts while amassing their business fortunes remained unpunished. However, I faced danger upon my return to Indonesia following the production of ‘The Act of Killing.’ Instead, I delved into the activities of oligarchs who accumulated wealth through violence in other regions. One such oil magnate, whom I won’t disclose his location, extended an invitation for me to view a property he was constructing. To my surprise, it was underground, similar to the bunker depicted in ‘The End,'” he recounted.

As I explored that location, a barrage of questions arose within me. ‘How could you endure the weight of your guilt for the disaster you were escaping? How could you bear the sorrow of the family and friends you abandoned? And how would you raise a new family in this place to create an image of yourself that’s idealized? It all seemed like a form of denial, a distortion of reality.’ Upon returning, I sought solace by watching one of my favorite movies. The storyline suddenly made perfect sense.

He chose characters from English-speaking backgrounds in musicals, acknowledging that this genre and its themes are deeply rooted in American culture and often symbolize an unattainable dream. He explained, “These characters are anonymous because they represent everyone and anyone.

It’s a common notion that one can choose to ignore impending doom, thinking everything will turn out fine tomorrow, like little orphan Annie’s song suggests. However, when people are faced with disaster, this isn’t hope; it’s despair disguised as hope. A musical turned this into a film about self-deception, avoidance, and misguided optimism.”

“Oppenheimer discussed his unusual background, from studying theoretical physics and cosmology – “I soon understood that I wouldn’t find my answers there” – to working with sex workers in Calcutta’s red-light district on a street theater project.

He shared that his curiosity revolved around the impact art could have on society. Working alongside remarkable individuals, he witnessed harrowing scenes that left a deep impression. He admitted that all his previous work seemed insignificant in light of these experiences.

Other life-changing trips followed, also to the Karakoram mountains.  

I climbed to great heights to witness the blackened glacier. Sitting upon a stone, I gazed at this dark ice formation and found myself overcome with emotion. Movies hadn’t held much appeal for me previously, but as my tears subsided, an idea struck me: ‘Perhaps I should become a filmmaker.’

He began delving into the concept that individuals aren’t solely defined by their pasts; they’re also narratives. However, he found no anticipation could have readied him for the challenges involved in creating a musical and composing its songs.

Originally, I was assigned to compose the song’s words, but this prospect filled me with fear, particularly when Joshua [Schmidt] mentioned they needed to rhyme. This seemed far more daunting than collaborating with armed groups in Indonesia.” He further commented.

In the heyday of musicals, characters would break into song when the magnitude of their truth exceeded what words or speech could convey. Conversely, in this scenario, the flimsy excuses they’ve concocted for themselves are unraveling due to the encroaching weight of the truth. Instead of singing their truths as characters in a musical might do, they are singing their fabrications here.

It’s much like the moment when Wile E. Coyote, pursuing the Road Runner, steps off a cliff, unaware of his predicament. He’s in mid-air, oblivious to the fall. I longed to witness this spectacle, to imagine it and now, to pass it on to you.

As a movie enthusiast, when an audience member complimented me on being brilliant, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Those close to me would vehemently disagree,” I said. “There’s nothing extraordinary about me, but I believe I possess compassion. Whenever I’m behind the camera, I see every person in front of it as someone I long to embrace fiercely, just so I can share their experiences. Can you imagine what it feels like to see through your eyes?

He remarked: “My spouse is Japanese and he shared with me a captivating Zen mantra from his upbringing, ‘I am destined to age, I am destined to fall ill, I am destined to lose those dear to me, I am destined to perish. Then, how should I live?’ I believe that encapsulates the essence of life.

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2025-01-26 21:18