Synopsis
How can you understand a violent past? Somali-born Abdi is a furniture designer and support worker. He reenacts his life, marked by war and criminality, with the help of his neighbour, filmmaker Douwe Dijkstra. By means of playful reconstructions in a special effects studio, they both embark on a candid and investigative journey through a painful history, focusing on the creative process throughout.
A word from Tënk
The expression of creativity truly comes to life in this short film, which won the Best Documentary Award at the 27th edition of REGARD, notably for its social, human, cinematic, political, and poetic impact, as well as for its profound and uniquely artistic achievement.
A unanimous favorite of the selection committee, jury, and festival attendees, the short film Neighbour Abdi bears witness to the importance of creativity in transcending the ugliness of the world. Through an exercise in artistic co-creation, the film brings together two life trajectories that seemingly couldn't be more different, highlighting the significance of the artistic process in constructing a narrative. The director's stance towards his subject is nuanced and questioned by the space given to Abdi in shaping and staging his own story. Through technical and aesthetic feats brought about by the skillful fusion of various mediums, we witness above all the forging of a strong friendship; a human encounter.
Morgane Ferrero et Mélissa Bouchard
Programmers of REGARD
