Bouchra Khalili: The Tempest Society. Digital film. 2017. 60 minutes. Sound. Color. Original languages: Greek, French, Arabic. Subtitled in English.
Nowadays in Athens: and what if three Athenians from different backgrounds formed a group to examine the current state of Greece, Europe, and the Mediterranean? To do so, they gather together on a theatre stage, defined as a civic space. They name themselves The Tempest Society to pay homage to Al Assifa (‘The Tempest’ in Arabic), a theatre group active in Paris in the 70’s composed of North-African immigrant factory workers and French students. Through the format of the «theatrical newspaper», Al Assifa addressed the daily struggle against inequality and racism in France. 40 years after, the forgotten legacy of Al Assifa and its «theatrical newspapers» find a site for reactivation in Greece. On a theater stage, members of The Tempest Society and their guests – Ghani, an spokesperson for immigrants’ right, Katerina born in Greece but undocumented, Malek a young Syrian refugee – call together for equality, civic belonging, and solidarity.
By Bouchra Khalili.
Commissioned for Documenta14. Co-produced with Ibsen Awards, with the support of FNAGP, Paris.
