Movie spotlight
Foreigners Out! Schlingensief's Container
FOREIGNERS OUT! SCHLINGENSIEFS CONTAINER is a thrilling, insightful, funny chronicle and reflection of one of he biggest public pranks and acts of art terrorism ever committed. Austria 2000: Right after the FPÖ under Jörg Haider had become part of the government, the first time an extreme right wing party became state officials after WW2, infamous German shock director Christoph Schlingensief showed a very unique form of protest. Realising public xenophobia and the new hate politics in the most drastic ways possible, he installed a public concentration camp right in the middle of Vienna's touristic heart, right beside the picturesque opera where hundreds of tourists and locals pass by daily. And it was no concentration camp you had ever feared to return from the old times, but one that cynically reflected our new multimedia culture. Satirising reality TV shows, "Big Brother" especially, a dozen asylum seekers were surveilled by a multitude of cameras, could be fed and watched by.
Insights
Plot Summary
This documentary offers a raw and unflinching look at Christoph Schlingensief's controversial art installation and performance piece, 'Foreigners Out!', which took place in Vienna's prominent public square. The project featured a group of asylum seekers confined within a shipping container, subject to public scrutiny and interaction. The film captures the intense reactions, ethical debates, and artistic provocations surrounding this boundary-pushing work.
Critical Reception
The film, like Schlingensief's work itself, polarized audiences and critics. It was praised by some for its daring exploration of xenophobia, media manipulation, and the nature of performance art, while others condemned its methods as exploitative and ethically questionable. It generated significant public discourse on immigration and art's role in society.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its provocative engagement with difficult social issues.
Criticized for its potentially exploitative and ethically ambiguous artistic methods.
Seen as a significant, albeit controversial, piece of performance art documentation.
Google audience: Audience reviews are scarce and often reflect the polarized nature of the film's reception, with some viewers finding it a compelling and important artistic statement on societal issues, while others express strong ethical reservations about the project's execution.
Fun Fact
During the 'Foreigners Out!' performance, Austrian politician Jörg Haider publicly criticized the installation, highlighting its divisive impact on Austrian society and politics.
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