Swiss Filmmaker Ulrich Kohler's 'Gavagai' Premieres in New York
Swiss filmmaker Ulrich Kohler's latest film, 'Gavagai', is set to premiere in New York, later playing in Zurich and Hamburg. The film, a satirical drama, explores themes of race, class, and post-colonial neuroses through the troubled production of a Franco-German movie in Senegal, based on the Greek myth of Medea.
At the heart of 'Gavagai' is the affair between a German actress playing Medea and her co-star, Nourou, played by Jean-Christophe Folly. The film delves into issues of racial profiling and cultural appropriation, with a tense scene involving a security guard and Nourou. Kohler, known for 'In My Room' which premiered in Cannes' Un Certain Regard section in 2018, complicates his targets, showing that tensions around caste, exclusion, and guilt of privilege are not exclusive to white people.
In the film, the Medea character, a white woman, is looked down upon as a pariah in the black kingdom of Jason of Corinth. The title, 'Gavagai', is derived from a story by philosopher Willard Quine, illustrating the challenges of translation and interpretation between languages and cultures. The film is produced by Sutor Kolonko and Good Fortune Films, with Ingmar Trost and Clément Duboin as producers, and international sales handled by Luxbox.
'Gavagai' promises to spark thought and conversation among its audiences, as it explores complex themes through the lens of a troubled film production. The film's unique setting and challenging themes set it apart, making it a compelling addition to the cinematic landscape.
