Sunday 8.2 @15:30–16:58 (88min)
Silent Legacy is a sympathetic story about an immigrant artist who ultimately tries to solve the problems caused by inequality in the world in order to be treated as an equal.
Sibiry, a choreographer by profession, has lived in Finland for over ten years and is beginning to long for contact with his home village in West Africa. But returning home is not easy: in Burkina Faso, Sibiry is seen as a privileged European and a distant source of money, even though what he wants most of all is a sense of belonging.
Sibiry begins to dream of a gift he plans to send from Finland to Burkina Faso, which would enable the village to take control of its own future. Sibiry hopes that this would exceed expectations, free him from his role as helper, and enable him to once again be seen as a normal, beloved “little boy from the village.” However, the gift turns out to be a difficult project, and not everything goes according to plan.
Silent Legacy combines documentary film and contemporary dance to explore identity, migration, and the legacy of colonialism. The film offers a humane, humorous, and sensitive insight into one person’s search for their place between two worlds. Towards the end, the camera also turns towards the viewer, revealing how the presence of European filmmakers unconsciously shapes reality.
Directed by: Jenni Kivistö & Jussi Rastas
In Europe, he is an “African immigrant,” while in Africa, he is a “privileged European.” We believe that this film can open a unique window into the unknown reality of immigrants, where expectations, hopes, perceptions, and personal identity are intertwined in the crossfire between two different worlds.
It is interesting to understand how complex the relationship between people who have moved to Finland and their country of origin can be, as it can be both a burden and an important resource. Finding a genuine connection can sometimes be difficult in a reality marked by inequality and colonialism.
Sibiry’s inspiring and determined character and her ability to dream big are linked to an important global dilemma: in an increasingly unequal world where states are failing to combat inequality, immigrants are forced to seek solutions
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Location: Ritz Vaasa
Language: Finnish, Dioula, French
Subtitles: Finnish, English
Tickets 10€ (sold at the door)
Series ticket 8€/film for two or more