Author
Friso Wiersum
Website http://www.vredevanutrecht2013.nl
Age born 1976
Articles by Friso Wiersum
Speak!
In a new theatre performance Sanja Mitrovic dives into the wondrous world of rhetorical power. Using historical speeches by the good, the bad and the ugly from world history, she compiles a breathtaking tour of politicians promising a better future. The concept of hope is at the core of the new piece. “Making politics sexy again,” is what she jokingly answered on my question what she is after with this play. I suppose “wishing politics to be sincere again” would be more apt. But than, who wouldn’t? In a series of performances Mitrovic and actor Geert Vaes deliver the speeches on stage, and in between the audiences may cast their votes on who delivered a better speech. Thereby transforming the process of politics into a contest on popularity – mirroring the way in which spectacle has become the central notion our contemporary society. Politics as a real time Idols show. “Winning votes does not only depend on your oratorical skills. How you respond to the words of your opponent can also captivate the audience. In addition, you do not know in advance how that audience will react. Will they choose the content or let themselves be guided by the form, the recitation. Will they opt for the underdog or more tend to support the winning party. Winning is, however, of great importance to both of us: the ballot might well be a very bitter experience for the loser, because he or she, in an unexpectedly direct way, is touched by his or her self-confidence and honour as a performer.” Which brings us to the realm of the arts – as the winner in this play will remain on stage, and not become a president or revolutionary leader. The original speeches were all delivered with the intention of becoming real. And speeches of hope, Mitrovic notes, can go in one of two directions: hope as a real possibility of change – Yes, we can – or the rhetoric of betrayal and false promises. In politics broken promises have become the nightmare of the spin doctors behind the politicians. The new president of France thus decided to not promise anything and to just be – a recipe for re-election? Mitrovic: “The theatre is a fantastic medium in which to deal with reality and imagination. Sometimes things are ‘true’, sometimes they are a true representation of the past although they are not historically accurate, sometimes they are indeed lies. The truth is not automatically given: it is something that you create and mold…. We have created something that in reality had never been possible. A discussion flows from there. That would be impossible for you to achieve through a book or a regular discussion. Theatre creates a new playground. The audience is an integral part of it. It participates in a communication. I must have the feeling that I am addressing myself to someone. For me, the game receives its urgency through the personal character of your presence.” Speak has its’ Dutch premiere next week at Spring festival in Utr
Read moreAfghan Human Rights Organisation
The current, fragile, political climate in Afghanistan has had its most dramatic effects on those at the margins of Afghan society: women, victims of war, young people and the physically handicapped. Lack of security, access to education and economic opportunities as well as a general deficiency in civic participation and democratic decision-making have dampened the hopes of millions of Afghans of securing a better, more peaceful and prosperous future for themselves and their families. What’s worse, this diminished hope has led to a radicalization among certain layers of Afghan society, with the danger that a further radicalization might lead to a strengthening of the insurgency that is threatening the future stability and economic well-being of the country. As a result, more opportunities are needed for discussing, better understanding and deepening the issues, conflicts and needs of ordinary Afghans in a non-contentious as well as physically and emotionally secure environment. The Afghan Human Rights Organisation (AHRDO) is committed to the promotion of participatory democracy, a culture of non-violence and the respect for human rights in Afghanistan and the region, principally through employing a variety of arts and theatre-based programs that create spaces for dialogue, peace-building, social justice, public participation and consequently societal transformation from the grassroots up. Besides, AHRDO aims to complement the ongoing external democratizing efforts with activities that are rooted and informed by local cultural traditions and values, exploring unique ways that support the people of Afghanistan to create a vision of the future and provide opportunities for them to transform fear into friendship, disappointment into hope, knowledge into understanding, hesitation into action and individual efforts into collective power for the purpose of building a peaceful, just and democratic society AHRDO has applied a series of unique art methodologies with different but ultimately complementary components. The 20th and 21st of June you will have the unique opportunity to learn more about the work of AHRDO at het Community Arts Lab Festival in Utrecht. Register
Read moreSyrious Mission, pt. 4
Friday April 26th With Maher I watch some of the footage we recorded whilst visiting the refugee camp. Happy gazes, enthusiastic children, music. Maher posed some questions and now translates the kids’ answers: “I’m from Homs. I’m from Daraa. There was a rocket. My house is gone.” Maher asked one of the boys what he wants to be growing up, the boy answers “I don’t care, i just want to go back to Syria.” Maher stops translating, I see tears in his eyes. Than he finally translates a remark from one of the smiling boys on tape: “I want to go to Syria, to die there.” On tape the conversation looks like a casual one to me. But there is nothing else occupying these refugees‘ minds than the situation back home. The television is on, day and night. In the camp talking about the war is the only thing to do. Next to praying and cooking food. The UNICEF people asked us not to pose any questions which would make the children think back on the war or family they had to leave behind. The art is to have the children live in the present. I had never expected it would be advantageous not to speak their language. Maher and Bassem, the two Syrians in our team, hear the most terrible stories, we Dutch don’t have a clue. We make music, challenge the children to react, we try to make contact. And yes, we love to listen to you, but we don’t understand your words. You can touch us, you can reach out for us, but we’ll never understand what you have been through. Actually, we don’t have anything to do with this war. We are the here and now, which is quiet, calm, peaceful. photo: Maher Al Sabbagh Saturday April 27th Permission to do a small music project in the King Abdallah Parc refugee cap is still not granted. As it is the last day of this Syrious Mission patience is no option. I check with the group whether they are willing to risk it. Nobody is too tired to try, nor to be sent back without performing. So, the driver puts a greatest wedding hist compilation on play and off we go. At the gate of the camp important looking men gather as soon as they spot our bus. We kindly greet the police men and the UNHCR workers. They take some time discussing amongst themselves. Everybody needs to utter their opinion on our permit paper, with its’ impressive stamps. A tall policeman tries deciphering our names, spelled in phonetic Arabic, and wants to compare them with the names in our passports. In the meantime some children we have met at the school have discovered us. And apparently the news runs fast. The tent run by the NGO ‘Save the Children’ is almost run over by enthusiastic children. It is no longer appropriate to wait any longer. We don’t explain anything, we grab our instruments, close the door and start playing. Simple and calming sounds. After a few minutes rest is reigning and the
Read moreSyrious Mission, pt. 3
Wednesday April 24th Marlies and Maaike bought a local SIM card. The salesman turn sou to be a Syrian dance teacher. Today he is our translator and assistant at the workshops. He is just a great guy who does this for the pleasure of the Syrian kids. Doesn’t want any financial reward for his time. We meet yet another translator at the street. Somebody came up to us and started some small talk. Normally that could mean someone wants to make some business. But we needed translators and so I welcomed him to join us. When offered a little reward he was very definite in refusing, “since the work you do, is good work.” Also the Ramtha coffeecorner guy and his friend helped us out, during three days, and were resolute in refusing any payment. When you have a tight plan all scheduled out, you will know frustation here. But when you are open for possibilities and help along the way, there are no limits here. It is going to be long day. In between workshops I discuss plans for the concerts tomorrow with the director. Good idea one: bring Jordans and Syrians togetether – which is delicate issue. The kids aren’t always friendly towards eachother. Still we want to try. The director says he’ll invite all Jordan kids to return to school in the afternoon, but says he expects a low show up. Good idea two: Bringing the boys and girls together for one big concert. No chance. “No problem for the Jordans, but impossible to arrange with the Syrians. It will at least take weeks to obtain permission.” For a conclusion I have to promise the concert will end at 16.00 sharp. Afterwards the bus with Syrian kids needs to return to the refugee camp. Till late at night I try to make a programm out of all the results of the workshops for the boys. Sjaietsa does the same for the girls. Often I have thought how bizarre it was, travelling with such a big group as this time, but now I am extremely proud we can programm two concerts, and were able to offer 25 workshops in two days. photo: Liny Mutsaers Thursday April 25th Next to organising the concerts in the two schools, we’d love to make music in the refugee camps. In Za’atari that is still impossible – the children there are too unruly. The camp knows tensions, there’s always visits taking place from journalists, observers, VIP’s and the likes. The small camp in Ramtha, where the children we met at school live, seems to be more apt. But there as well complications are easy to find. The United Nations have just passed their powers to local authorities, and thus plenty of new rules in place. After some phonecalls the answer to our idea was clear: better not try. During weekends the relief aid workers aren’t in camp, and to perform on fridays might disturb the religious ceremonies. Bassem, our Syrian-Dutch opera singer , Maher, the Syrian-Dutch filmmaker and me do head towards the camp anyway. With our
Read morePolitical scars at LAFF
Every year the LAFF showcases movies from Latin America. A continent which sometimes seems to be forgotten in global politics – focused as we are on the turmoil in the Middle East and our “own” worries in Europe. A continent nonetheless which has a long history of engaged arts. Every year LAFF selects movies which follow this tradition. And as this year sees the celebrations for the three centennial of the Treaty of Utrecht LAFF decided to program a special themeday around “Political Scars”. Carne de Perro In a previous life, lonely fifty-something Alejandro worked as a torturer for the Pinochet regime. Years later, consumed by rage and paranoia, he attempts to get his life back on track and find a place for himself in society. The fact that the actor who plays Alejandro is himself a torture victim makes this film even more intense.The fact that the actor in his own personal life was tortured, makes the film unforgettable. Fernando Guzzoni in this intense debut film shows a man who is looking for a new identity and fights with his dubious past from a dictatorial era. Trailer. Cuchillos en el cielo Milagros returns to society after 10 years prison as an alleged terrorist of the “Shining Path” guerrilla movement. Her mistreatment in prison has left her with a daughter, who is now a teenager. Should she choose the love of her daughter or to fight against those who raped her? Powerful new cinema from Peru. Trailer. Infancia Clandestina Stunning and partly autobiographical debut about 12-year-old Juan who, together with his parents, has a traumatic youth during the military regime in Argentina. Everything seems to be going alright, thanks to a double identity, until Juan falls in love with Maria and contact with the outside world becomes threatening.Moving and partly autobiographical debut film by Benjamín Avila about exile, fear and politics, but also about a first teenage love. Trailer. No Chile 1988. Pinochet is forced to hold a referendum on whether his regime can continue. Deft, clever advertising hotshot René (Gael García Bernal) is asked to design an advertising campaign to lead to a firm ‘NO’ to Pinochet. He manages to inspire the people of Chile with an unexpectedly positive and colourful campaign.In this third part of the trilogy that Larraín made on the Chilean dictatorship, he shows in a sublime way, for example by use of a ’80s video camera, the spirit of the times. NO was nominated for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language film. Trailer. Polvo Old wounds are re-opened for Delfina and her son Juan when a young couple approaches them about a documentary on people who disappeared during the armed conflict in 1982. Delfina is still searching for her husband, but Juan knows his father will never return. Polvo is the third film from Guatemalan talent Julio Hernández Cordón. Trailer. Una Noche Young Lila lives with her twin brother Elio in Havana. Elio is involved in a complicated friendship with the more rebellious Raúl, and in fact is secretly in love with him. When Lila finds out that Elio and Raúl
Read moreSyrious Mission, pt. 2
Tuesday April 23rd Ramtha is a long ride from Amman. So we try to find a hostel and meet laughter at every phonecall we make: all available spaces are taken by Syrian refugees. So we sleep in Amman, and drive to the border and back again. Today we really get starting; three teams of volunteers will visit the boys’ school and three of them the girl school. Jordanians in the mornings, Syrians in the afternoons. Jeroen, acrobat and singer, and me start in a class of over thirty children. I play something and the class reacts. We do some handclapping games, we do some singing to discover out tuning. All goes well! Than a teacher comes in and tells us we are in the wrong class. A very painful moment indeed, luckily we could continue. Hesitatingly at times, but in due time a real chorus evolves and some boys even dare sing a solo. photo: Liny Mutsaers After a small break in which we are served very sweet tea in the director’s office the Syrian kids arrive to the school by bus. They all line up at the schoolsquare and from loudspeakers we all hear the song “salute the king”. Teachers point at a big sign displaying the lyrics. The children politely watch on.. The workshop is not easy. The children are very chaotic, and even the teacher sometimes loses his temper with the kids and starts yelling at them. Some of the singing evolves into the chanting of revolutionairy songs. But than there also children who don’t sing along, who hide themselves. And it is true, it is strange to make music and try to have fun with these children who endured experiences I cannot understand. Even though we are physically close, we are miles apart sometimes.. &
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treaty of utrecht 2013 website
