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Oliver Laxe: Filmmaking as Self-Protection
12 Nov
Summary
- Filmmaker Laxe sees directing as a way to protect his fragile self.
- The desert serves as a mirror, forcing confrontation with one's inner world.
- Laxe views filmmaking as a spiritual practice akin to prayer.
Filmmaker Oliver Laxe shared that his career choice was significantly driven by a need for self-protection, stemming from personal fragility and vulnerability. He finds that filmmaking offers a path to personal growth, even if a film reaches few viewers.
Laxe curated 'Welcome to the Desert,' a program of 17 films at the Thessaloniki Film Festival, exploring the desert as a setting for self-confrontation. He stated the desert functions as a mirror, eliminating distractions and demanding presence, a quality he finds enchanting.
The director views nature as possessing a transcendental quality, reminding him of human insignificance and curbing artistic arrogance. He believes accepting the unexpected elements in filmmaking leads to more profound cinematic images.
Having spent formative years in Morocco, Laxe's encounters with Islamic culture influenced his views on empathy and representing 'the Other.' He advocates for decolonization and understanding others by stepping into their position.
For Laxe, directing is a spiritual act, akin to prayer, celebrating life's complexity and fostering gratitude and connection. The Thessaloniki Film Festival ran from November 5 to November 15.
