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A Presentation of the Jewish Renaissance Movement in Poland
Yael Bartana, Camilla Nielsson, Susanne Sachsse, Marc Siegel
Thursday, 17.2., 12:30 Arsenal 1
“We direct our appeal not only to Jews. We accept into our ranks all those for whom there is no place in their homelands – the expelled and the persecuted. There will be no discrimination in our movement. We shall not ask about your life stories, check your residence cards or question your refugee status. We shall be strong in our weakness.” (JRMiP manifesto)
In 2007 Yael Bartana initiated the Jewish Renaissance Movement in Poland (JRMiP), a political movement that calls for the return of 3,300,000 Jews to the land of their forefathers: “We want to return! Not to Uganda, not to Argentina or to Madagascar, not even to Palestine. It is for Poland that we long, the land of our fathers and forefathers.” (JRMiP manifesto). The JRMiP can be read however in a broader context, apart from the complex Polish-Jewish relationship, as an experimental form of collective psychotherapy, through which national demons are stirred and dragged out into daylight. Bartana has made films with and about the movement, such as Mary Koszmary (Nightmares) (2007), Mur i Wieża (Wall and Tower) (2009) and the performance We Will Be Strong In Our Weakness (2010), in which Susanne Sachsse, as Rivka, publicly called forth the spirit of the movement. Since its foundation, the JRMiP has spread widely and found many followers.
In a next step the JRMiP invites selected festival guests – filmmakers, artists, and critics – to get involved in this collective process and to contribute their thoughts and proposals for the movement. The resulting video interviews will be presented at the cinema.
“With one religion, we cannot listen.
With one color, we cannot see.
With one culture, we cannot feel.
Without you we can’t even remember.
Join us, and Europe will be stunned!
(JRMiP manifesto)
Yael Bartana, Camilla Nielsson, Susanne Sachsse, Marc Siegel, and the interviewees
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