In 2003 I lived in Berlin as part of Tom Sachs’ “Nutty’s” installation at the Deutsche Guggenheim. Through friends, I met a bunch of Americans who were living in Berlin at the time. I began filming interviews with them on September 11, 2003.
Before putting this project together I had not watched these interviews, and I don't really remember conducting the interviews. 20 years later, in reviewing them for this project, l am struck by the subjects' courage in moving to a foreign country and alarmed by their common proclamations of feeling more "free" in Berlin than they did in the United States.
I too remember this sense of freedom I felt when I lived in Berlin in 2003. A sense of freedom and camaraderie.
I find it difficult to articulate the difference between what it was like to live as an adult in pre-911 America vs. what it's been like to live in post-911 America. I find little clues as I listen to the stories told by these American expatriates.
Join The Spirited Man Patreon to gain access to ‘AMERICANS IN BERLIN’, director commentaries, Q&A livestreams, peer discussions, limited edition zines, Patreon-only videos and more: www.patreon.com/spiritedman
Van Neistat
In 2003 I lived in Berlin as part of Tom Sachs’ “Nutty’s” installation at the Deutsche Guggenheim. Through friends, I met a bunch of Americans who were living in Berlin at the time. I began filming interviews with them on September 11, 2003.
Before putting this project together I had not watched these interviews, and I don't really remember conducting the interviews. 20 years later, in reviewing them for this project, l am struck by the subjects' courage in moving to a foreign country and alarmed by their common proclamations of feeling more "free" in Berlin than they did in the United States.
I too remember this sense of freedom I felt when I lived in Berlin in 2003. A sense of freedom and camaraderie.
I find it difficult to articulate the difference between what it was like to live as an adult in pre-911 America vs. what it's been like to live in post-911 America. I find little clues as I listen to the stories told by these American expatriates.
Join The Spirited Man Patreon to gain access to ‘AMERICANS IN BERLIN’, director commentaries, Q&A livestreams, peer discussions, limited edition zines, Patreon-only videos and more: www.patreon.com/spiritedman
1 year ago | [YT] | 572