Director of A Name is a Name, Sigurjon Einarsson - Q&A in “Nova Makedonija” daily
Director of A Name is a Name, Sigurjon Einarsson
Q&A in “Nova Makedonija” daily
Why did you accept to direct this documentary movie for Macedonia?
- I should take a step back and let you know how I came to be involved with Macedonia in the first place. In October of 2007, Morten Harket was invited to Macedonia so that he could speak at a conference the Government was hosting at Lake Ohrid on religious and civilizational dialogue. I work with Morten so I came with him and we were on our way to Morocco to work on Morten’s new solo album he was working on at the time. We spent a lovely weekend at the Lake and as we spoke with more and more people, we became incensed at the whole issue.
- As Jason has noted, the idea came to us naturally and when Jason was in Oslo in May of 2008 for the release of Morten’s new solo album, Letter from Egypt, we talked more and more about Macedonia and the name issue. I am a filmmaker by profession and Morten and I had worked on a film about East Timor in the mid-1990s when East Timor was trying to become independent from Indonesia. The whole issue of East Timor was in the background in a way, and was not receiving much attention and deserved to have a spotlight put on it, much like Macedonia. So the whole issue of creating a film about Macedonia and the name issue was a bit organic and natural.
How do you see Macedonia - with camera and without camera?
- I have now made six trips to Macedonia and have been captivated every time. As a filmmaker I have made many films, commercials and even music videos. The camera presents a particular point of view in time – it captures a moment. Of course without the camera one can see and experience much more. But for a filmmaker, it is extremely important to capture what it is I see, hear and feel without the camera but on camera. It is a bit tricky but that is the art of it. Of course the other components – narration and music – also add to the final picture, as it were and are vitally important. So my two professions – filmmaking and music – fit this naturally.
- But to really answer your question – I see Macedonia as a small country – and I come from a small country, Iceland – with a very warm and enjoyable people just trying to make it in this world. Macedonia is a very beautiful country offering things to people like me that you can’t find elsewhere in the world. But the fact that you are held hostage because of your name is what upsets me the most.
What do you think about the name issue after all of the conversations with people made for the movie?
- I am motivated more than ever to tell this story. Having met so many Macedonians from all walks of life throughout the whole country, I am moved by the simple fact that here we have a group of people who call themselves Macedonians – and have been calling themselves Macedonians for ages – and yet in this day and age – the 21st century in Europe – one country is telling you that you cannot call yourselves what you want. This is wrong. Nobody can dictate your identity and name except you.
What is the best way to present Macedonia abroad? What do foreigners want to see?
- Although we are not making a travel film or a promotional film, I can say that I think you need to present what is unique in Macedonia. Travelers – especially westerners – are always looking for something new, something unique. Capitalism – for all its blessings – tends to offer sameness. Same malls, same food, same glitzy hotels, etc. What is Macedonia’s comparative advantage? And I’m not just talking about economic comparative advantage which you need to sell as well. I think you have much to present to foreigners. Your culture – which encompasses your food and wine, music, architecture, the arts, faith-based institutions such as churches, monasteries and mosques – is one way. But the beauty of the landscape is another. The whole issue of archeology and history is something too, that people want to see, know more about and explore. In our film Pasko Kuzman talks about all the civilizations that have come through Macedonia and left something and now all of that belongs to Macedonia. That is what people want to come and see.
So the thing for Macedonia is how to cut through the clutter of everything else that is out there and get your message across – Undiscovered Macedonia for instance.
Nova Makedonija 20 June 2009
6/24/2009 |