why we fight
Creators: Alain Platel, Mirjam Devriendt, Steven Prengels, Gustav Mahler
The starting point for ‘Why We Fight’ is Alain Platel's work ‘Nicht Schlafen’ (literally ‘don't sleep’), which features contemporary choreography set to music by Austrian composer Gustav Mahler. Mahler evoked the early days of the First World War, a turbulent period marked by rapid change and upheaval that still resonates strongly today. The result is tragic, tense music that perfectly matches what the director and choreographer was looking for in his piece. Through the dancers' narration and the montage of archive footage, this documentary questions the raison d'être of violence in society. Why and for whom do we fight?