Issaka Sawadogo: 'Those who ignore diversity do themselves an injustice' #NFF2016

Diversity is a major theme at the Netherlands Film Festival. It was also front and centre on the opening afternoon of the National Film Conference, the festival section for professionals and film students. Diversity, the longer I think about it, the less I understand what exactly is meant by it.

Does it refer to the wide variety of film, TV and game productions produced by the Netherlands? Is it about the colour of the makers? Should there be more multicultural subjects? Men and women? International co-productions? Should we turn to exotic markets?

Broad concept

Regarding the latter, under the motto 'diversity', the Film Conference had also invited French producer Isabelle Glachant for its opening programme on Thursday afternoon. She has a lot of experience with the Chinese film industry. In any case, it made it clear to me that diversity is a broad concept.

Perhaps it is enough if filmmakers simply pick up on what is going on in the real world.

Battle

One of the interviewees was Oscar winner Danis Tanovic, director of No Man's Land and the Berlin award-winning Death in Sarajevo. Sober but inspired director who makes committed films that hit hard. He had little to say about diversity, only that he sees how media reinforce fear and that fear drives people apart. "I make films about people struggling to survive," he said.

The Belgian Dardenne brothers (La fille inconnue), the guests of honour to close the afternoon, and famous for their social realist films, had a similar story. Their protagonists are often people on the fringes of society, introverted boobs fighting their own lonely battles. The Dardennes want them to find a new opening, to give back their dignity, to discover that they are not just victims. To give marginalised people their humanity back. But whether we should call that 'diversity'?

No flames

Urgent developments' was what moderator Tessa Boerman had promised us. To this end, a seemingly somewhat haphazardly assembled eleven speakers and interviewees shone their light on the subjects of diversity, piracy and new technology. Yet the real fire did not want to blaze. No one to stir things up with a challenging or surprising speech.

Returning to that diversity - I was most charmed by the words of actor Issaka Sawadogo. He is one of the special guests at the NFF and may be here Master mention. Born in Burkina Faso and moved to Norway, where he began a theatre career. International breakthrough with impressive leading role as a washed-up immigrant in the smashing Belgian film The Invader by Nicolas Provost. Equally inescapable in some Dutch productions, including The new world and The Paradise Suite. Nominated for a Golden Calf for his role in the latter.

Navigate

But when asked how he does it anyway, navigating the world, he seemed to wonder what exactly was meant. Then, as humbly as confidently, he launched into the conversation and shared with us his philosophy of life.

'I am not religious, but I thank God for all the opportunities I have been given, for my identity and my talent that has opened so many doors. I thank everyone, because without other people we are nothing. Our diversity is a fact of life. We are born with it and it is a gift with which we can make the world a better place. Those who ignore that do themselves and the world an injustice. When I ask 'who am I', I find the answer in others. By looking at others, I discover something about myself. That is the mirror in which I look.'

'As an actor, I also try to be such a mirror. We are all born with the talent to adapt to the world, it is our talent to discover what is good for us. See the newborn baby who immediately seeks the mother's breast without being taught. This is how I use my talent to take new steps. Variety, we all have it in us, you can't escape it.'

Funny scene

To illustrate, he quotes a funny scene from Jaap van Heusden's The new world. In it, he plays an illegal immigrant from Africa who is brought to Schiphol Airport handcuffed. There, he crosses the path of a white cleaning lady who tries to make it clear to him with adrift gestures to step aside. The African answers with a laconic imitation, and so an absurdist conversation ensues that will eventually change the lives of both of them.