Born by the director’s observations on the political events in the aftermath of the economical crisis in Southern European countries, this film aims at opening a window on the activities, motivations and aims of the Berlin Podemos Circle during the campaign preceding the general elections in Spain – from September 2015 to December 2015.

In recent years, many young educated Southern Europeans were forced out of their home countries in search of better economic conditions. Nowadays, many of them gather in Berlin, a city that has become a harbor and a base for a fresh new start for many communities of expats from Europe and elsewhere.

Through the stories told by the members of this group, we would like to examine the mechanisms and practices inherent in a new way of doing politics – a way that is meant to be more accessible to the people. Yet at the heart, we would like to explore the question of how expats can continue to contribute to the political life in their home countries from abroad, thus exploring an entirely new concept of European boundaries and identity.

As the story unfolds, the contradiction between the desire to go back, the will to start anew and the need to keep the connection with the home country alive will become evident. Discover the wishes, fears and the conflicts at play in the activities of a group of new Berliners determined to change their home country from abroad.

Synopsis

Over 2 years ago, a group of young expats formed the Podemos Circle Berlin. This documentary follows Pedro, Raquel and their compañeros in the months prior to the Spanish general elections of December 2015. Determined to bring the anti-austerity movement straight to Angela Merkel‘s doorstep, the group calls for a vote that will put an end to a politics that privileges financial interests while neglecting the people. Their actions, their commitment for a change in national and communitarian policies are divided between the desire to go back and their determination to start afresh.

On December 20th 2015, after a three-months-long campaign, the fearful day arrives. Raquel and Juan are commenting on the results of the elections at a local radio in Berlin. Later, in a taxi driving through the city lights, they think of their Spain.Their satisfaction, their disappointment and their desire to start over again travel with them through the night...

Filmed in real time, this film is an honest and bold portrait about the wishes, fears and actions of a group of new Berliners facing their future in the aftermath of the economic crisis in Southern Europe and sharing the same destiny as many other communities of young Europeans forced out of their home countries.

Credits

Director: Michelangelo Severgnini

Executive Producer: Federica Loddo

Co-Producer: weltfilm GmbH, Kristina Konrad

Editing: Michelangelo Severgnini, Sergio Liguori

Music: Michelangelo Severgnini

With the Círculo Podemos Berlín

Trailer

Who's behind this project?

Michelangelo, 41 years old, from Crema (Italy), in Berlin since 2014

Director, cameraman, editing and music

Michelangelo has a vast experience of filmmaking and film collaborations in Italy, Germany, Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Algeria. He is particularly active in the political scene and regularly holds workshops and film screenings around the current situation in Europe and Syria. A music composer, he plays contrabass in the group Berlin-Bagdad Bahn. Línea de fuga is his sixth film and the first being shot in Berlin.

Federica, 33 years old, from Cagliari (Italy), in Berlin since 2001

Executive producer

Federica has been working for festivals, film organisations, she’s been curating film retrospectives and organizing film events both in Germany and internationally since 2010. Her first experience in the cinema sector was a film festival project, which was entirely financed with crowdfunding. Línea de fuga is her first experience in film production.

What do we need the money for

Your contributions will be used in order to record a brand new film music, getting the film sound ready to be enjoyed in a modern movie theatre through the audio mixing and give the film a refined look with the color correction.

About the rewards

Shipping costs are included in all packages. We will be shipping the rewards at the end of the campaign and you will receive them by the end of June. Online screeners and DVDs will take a little bit longer, as the film will be in post-production until the end of June. But don’t worry, you will be enjoying the film either on DVD or on your laptop in no time!

Estimated calendar

Back in September 2015, motivated by passion and by the need to document this inspiring story, we decided to start shooting the film with the only means at our disposal: a camera and the director-cameraman. Only recently, we have entered a co-production agreement with weltfilm GmbH, which has allowed us to go on with the following production steps and start this campaign.

And now it's time to continue!

By mid-June (at the latest) we will start the following post-production steps: audio mixing 5.1., color correction and score recording. The film will be ready for release by the end of June and sent to festivals.

+ Info

For more information, don’t hesitate to contact us and have a look at our website.

We'll be very happy to answer to your questions anytime!

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