‘Terrorist Spectacles,’ ‘Symbolic Acts’ and the ‘Fear Box’ Discussed by Filmmaker Johan Grimonprez at IDFA: ‘Images Are Screaming Out at You’
variety.comLeo Barraclough International Features Editor Belgian filmmaker Johan Grimonprez, whose “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat” won an award for cinematic innovation at Sundance, mused on the significance of the “symbolic act” during a talk at documentary festival IDFA on Sunday.
Speaking in the art-deco splendor of Amsterdam’s Tuschinski movie theater, Grimonprez started with an extract from his film “Shadow World,” which investigated the arms trade.
First, he showed a clip in which Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi threw his shoes at George W. Bush during a press conference as a protest against the U.S.
occupation of his country. Then there was an interview in which al-Zaidi explained what drove him to do this, and the price he paid (he was waterboarded, electrocuted and had his front teeth knocked out).
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