Requiem for the 20th Century (1994)

“Requiem pour le XXè siècle” is a manifesto against war. It is an elegy. The photograph is connected with images that are part of our collective memory: extracts from newsreels of World War II that have been reworked and transformed through various optical and electronic processes. World War II was a condensation of violence (biological and environmental destructions, racism, ethnic clearing, and persecution of people who are different…) and ongoing wars perpetuate that violence. This work is a metaphorical representation of all past, present and future wars. Constructed on the dramatic tension between the violence of wars and the presence of the intersex hermaphroditic “Angel”: Their eyes are bandaged; they are a symbol for difference, having an ambiguous position: observer, witness, victim or judge.

Director: Katerina Thomadaki, Maria Klonaris
Runtime: 14 min
Release Date:
Music: Spiros Faros
Production: Eikona, A.S.T.A.R.T.I.
Country: France
Language: No Language
Original Language: fr

Keywords

world war ii, video art, short film, experimental

More Films by Director: Katerina Thomadaki, Maria Klonaris

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Requiem for the 20th Century about?
“Requiem pour le XXè siècle” is a manifesto against war. It is an elegy. The photograph is connected with images that are part of our collective memory: extracts from newsreels of World War II that have been reworked and transformed through various optical and electronic processes. World War II was a condensation of violence (biological and environmental destructions, racism, ethnic clearing, and persecution of people who are different…) and ongoing wars perpetuate that violence. This work is a metaphorical representation of all past, present and future wars. Constructed on the dramatic tension between the violence of wars and the presence of the intersex hermaphroditic “Angel”: Their eyes are bandaged; they are a symbol for difference, having an ambiguous position: observer, witness, victim or judge.
Who directed Requiem for the 20th Century?
Requiem for the 20th Century was directed by Katerina Thomadaki, Maria Klonaris.
How long is Requiem for the 20th Century?
Requiem for the 20th Century has a runtime of 14m (14 minutes).
Where was Requiem for the 20th Century produced?
Requiem for the 20th Century was produced in France.