55/95
A piece of found footage from the Austrian past, adapted with the future in mind.
May 15, 1955 - "Austria is free", says the Austrian minister for foreign affairs and drops the paper with this sentence written on it. 40 years later I find a piece of film with this event registred on it.
January 1, 1995 - Austria becomes a member of the European Community. The state treaty and neutrality are up for discussion again. I adapted the found footage as a national example for the international handling of political responsability.
(Gustav Deutsch)
The one minute film consists of a single shot from the 1955 newsreel in which Leopold Figl, after signing the treaty, declares Austria´s post-war independence. At a time when Austria has become a member of the EU and the right wing dreams of a third republic, the re-working of an amusing trifle becomes a serious commentary on the way in which Austrian neutrality and independence is dealt with.
(Thomas Korschil)
The question today is: Free from what and free what for?
(Eva Waniek)
55/95
1994
Austria
1 min