Committed Film 2

Present-day fine art sees a revival of social commitment. The HAFF wants to initiate a discussion on this subject with a theme programme of committed animation films on various subjects via different media. The programme was set up with Gerrit van Dijk, who stood at the cradle of the HAFF and passed away in December 2012. The programme was initiated before his demise. He is a pioneer in this field, with a poetical film like Butterfly R.I.P. 1975 (1975), but also the more aggressive Jute films (1979).
Socially committed films are of all time and display a broad thematic palette, but also pre-eminently demonstrate the spirit of the times and have quite their own dynamics in storytelling. For example, animation film traditionally has strong ties with politics. Animation was frequently deployed to engage in politics, as a means of propaganda and also to express criticism. Animation provides an effective packaging. It can be concealing not to pose an immediate threat and entertaining to convey messages more easily. But also distinctly radical. In animation, filmmakers have everything in their own hands and with the Internet they have a hungry and potentially gigantic public within reach.

Showing in this program

Flesh

Edouard Salier
France, 2005
9 min.

Jute: A United Europe

Gerrit van Dijk
The Netherlands, 1979
2 min.

Jute: And Deliver Us From the TROS, Amen

Gerrit van Dijk
The Netherlands, 1979
2 min.

Jute: Getting It Off Your Mind

Gerrit van Dijk
The Netherlands, 1979
3 min.

Music for the Millions

Gerrit van Dijk
The Netherlands, 1983
2 min.

Music for the Millions wordt ook wel beschouwd als de dertiende film van het Jute-project. Ondersteund door een hardcore punk-soundtrack, worden bewerkte beelden van televisiereclames afgezet tegen opnamen van de hongerende massa’s in de Derde Wereld.
Music for the Millions is also considered the thirteenth film in the Jute project. Supported by a hardcore punk soundtrack, the remodelled images of television commercials are contrasted with recordings of starving masses in the Third World.