Fighting for Nothing to Happen

After the volcanic eruption of Mount Rokatenda, the people of the island of Pulau Palue in east Indonesia are to be relocated. But are the planned relocation and the “new” life at the neighbouring Pulau Besar really promising? This film accompanies Father Cyrillus, priest and employee of a Christian NGO, in his efforts to promote and drive forward the relocation project. A worried host community, unclear land rights at the relocation site, a corrupt and disorganized government in the district capital as well as impatient refugees in temporary shelters are challenging the protagonists in their attempts to make the best of the situation.

Treasured Moments

This is the personal story of a boy who grew up mixed in every aspect of his life, his parents, where he was from, his race. The black kid who thought that he was white. The white kid who thought that he was black. The director, Ravi Hart, narrates the film along with interviews with his family. The film begins with Ravi’s love of boats. Born on the island of Anguilla, British West Indies, he grew up sailing and fishing. A catastrophic hurricane hits the island in 1995 and the family leaves for the United States. The film goes on to articulate the mixed race experience in the US through themes of identity, displacement, educational inequalities and police harassment.

This screening is organised by RAI FILM FESTIVAL ambassador Natalia Garcia-Bonet in collaboration with the RAI FILM FESTIVAL 2019 anthropology / ethnography / archaeology.