Within every freedom movement or organisation there are a number of diverse and unique actors, propelled by their own histories, beliefs and experiences. These groups rely on an act. An act of courage. A decision to make a difference. Resistance takes many forms, both with words and deeds, but once that decision has been made there’s no going back. Change can only come when people are prepared to stand up and be counted. This is as important today as it ever was.
The Holocaust was undoubtedly the lowest point in human history. We will never know the exact number of victims but well over ten million died at the hands of the Nazis. Amongst them were hundreds of thousands of Serbs. Sonja Vujanović, now in her late nineties, was one of the first female Serbian partisans and one of the leaders of the resistance in Auschwitz. She recounts her story in Landscapes of Resistance.
Using her testimony at its heart, Landscapes of Resistance is a powerful documentary about the important of personal struggle. Director Marta Popivoda records her words and places them within her landscapes. Whilst the focus in on Sonja’s life, love and losses, her story resonates within wider history and events taking place today in an increasingly populist Europe. Landscapes of Resistance is a stark reminder that we can never let our guard down against the spectre of fascism. Memories and place mix to create a profound and compelling monument.
Landscapes of Resistance screens at Visions du Réel.
