The State of the World

Part 1 · May 23, 2007

Luminous People

A recreation of an event to commemorate the presence of the dead and the decayed memories of the living, of filmmaking

Part 2 · May 24, 2007

Germano

A short contemporary story about the crew of a small Brazilian fishing boat. Part of the anthology The State of the World.

Part 3 · May 24, 2007

One Way

Contemporary economic conditions in Nepal are examined with documentary images, interviews, and narration. There has been, for many years, a labour migration from across Nepal to India ’s cities. This short film is set in the underground parking lot of an apartment building in Bangalore, in South India. One Way follows the livelihood of a security guard named Shyam Bahadur, who lives with the rest of his family in the electric switching room of an apartment block, to whom he provides service for the sake of survival. The narrative of the journey he made 35 years ago, from the mountains of Nepal to the southern plateau of Bangalore, punctuates his day-to-day life in and out of the basement. As his personal story unfolds, the hills of Nepal are being rocked by “the people’s war,” yet another historical disturbances that has forced Nepalis to emigrate for work.

Part 4 · May 24, 2007

Brutality Factory

Modern China. On a bright sunny day, in a building site, an industrial complex is being deconstructed. Night falls. The ruins of the factory are empty and silent. Phantoms appear, voices are heard, telling their stories....From the anthology The State of the World.

Part 5 · May 24, 2007

Tarrafal

Pedro Costa's segment from "O Estado do Mundo".

Part 6 · May 24, 2007

Nightfall in Shanghai

Tombée de nuit sur Shanghaï is Akerman’s contribution to the collective film L’état du monde (2007). Consists of little more than long-held vid shots of Shanghai skyscrapers and a floating boat, bearing giant video displays of consumer products and familiar images such as Da Vinci’s « La Giaconda.