René Wildangel

Author: René Wildangel

Friendly between Germany and Saudi Arabia on 08.06.2018 – Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan on the bench (photo: Reuters)

Germany's identity crisis

Gundogan and Ozil are not the problem!

The criticism of Ilkay Gundogan and Mesut Ozil for meeting with Erdogan is justified, but the debate is about more than just human rights in Turkey. The real question is: how diverse does Germany want to be? Essay by Rene WildangelMore

Soccer as a force for integration: Success through diversity The UEFA Cup 2016: The Teutonic preoccupation with race

Walaa Tanji, protagonist of the film "What Walaa wants", at the Berlinale 2018 (source: Berlinale)

Berlinale 2018: "What Walaa wants"

Against all the odds

Director Christy Garland's documentary, "What Walaa wants", which premiered at this year's Berlinale International Film Festival, tells the story of a young rebellious Palestinian woman who overcomes prejudice and adversity to pursue her wish to become a police officer with the Palestinian Authority. By Rene WildangelMore

Raed Andoni's "Ghost Hunting" at the Berlinale: The ghosts that lurk "Bethlehem": Beloved enemy ''Zaytoun'' by Eran Riklis: Unpicking the hatred

Still from Karim Ainouz′ ″Central Aiport THF″ (photo: Juan Sarmiento)

Berlinale 2018: ″Central Airport THF″ by Karim Ainouz

Lives lived in waiting

″Central Airport THF″, the new documentary by Karim Ainouz intentionally turns the focus away from the image of refugees as victims. He is far more interested in how, under adverse circumstances, life endures in an atmosphere of waiting. By Rene WildangelMore

Germany′s Berlinale: Where film meets reality The refugee debate: How do we want to live?"Paradises of the earth": The time is now

Director of "Tahqiq fel djenna" Merzak Allouache and lead Salima Abada (source: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin)

Merzak Allouache′s ″Tahqiq fel djenna″

Seventy two grapes

In his film ″Tahqiq fel Djenna″ (Investigating Paradise), which was awarded the Panorama 2017 prize at this year′s Berlinale, Merzak Allouache investigates the sexualised idea of Paradise as spread by Salafist preachers. By Rene Wildangel

″Cinema Clubs″ in Egypt: Rediscovering the silver screen Karama-Gaza Human Rights Film Festival: Roll out the red carpet!Nabil Ayouch's Film ''God's Horses'': Ostracised and Forgotten

Film scene from ″Istiyad Ashbah | Ghost Hunting″ (source: Berlinale)

Raed Andoni's "Ghost Hunting" at the Berlinale

The ghosts that lurk

Raed Andoni's film functions as both trauma therapy and as an opportunity to discuss the political problem of prisoners. First and foremost, though, the film works as an impressive piece of cinematography dealing with the basic questions of the human condition. By Rene WildangelMore

Mohammad Malas's film "Ladder to Damascus": Between dream and disaster Lebanese Victims of Torture: Remembering Palmyra Interview with former Tadmur inmate Bara Sarraj: Surviving hell

Bassem Youssef′s satirical show ″Al Bernameg″ (source: Al Bernameg)

Sara Taksler′s documentary ″Tickling Giants″

Running the satirical gauntlet

His cutting humour led to Bassem Youssef becoming a comedy star throughout the Arab world in the wake of the Arab Spring in Egypt. Yet, the spring of freedom was short-lived: by the end of 2013, his popular show was abruptly cancelled. An American documentary film portrays the legendary satirist. By Rene WildangelMore

Egypt in turmoil: Against the tide of hatred TV Satirist Bassem Youssef: "People should be able to listen to different opinions"Photo essay: Bassem Youssef: Satire in the service of democracy

US President Elect Donald Trump in Indianapolis (photo: Reuters)

Middle East policy under Donald Trump

Return of the dictators

Just how the Trump administration will handle the thorny issue of the Middle East remains to be seen. Trump's policy of non-intervention and "pragmatic" alliances with authoritarian rulers is, however, likely to encourage the return of repressive dictatorships, lending them apparent respectability in exchange for guarantees of stability. By Rene WildangelMore

US foreign policy under Trump: Peace in our time?Arab reactions to Donald Trump′s election victory: The jihadists' dream Military force and drone warfare: Post-truth victims

"Raving Iran" - a film documentary

Agents provocateurs

The film "Raving Iran" tells the story of the Iranian DJ combo "Blade & Beard". Anoosh and Arash produce house music and organise wild parties in Tehran and other more isolated locations in Iran. By Rene WildangelMore

Music and power in Iran: An instrument of propaganda and control Film review: "No Land's Song": One woman's quest to make Iranian women's voices heard Interview with Ramin Sadighi from the Iranian music label Hermes Records: The fine line between what is permitted and what is not

Aktion Zeig Rassismus die rote Karte, Foto: picture-alliance/dpa/Fredrik von Erichsen

The UEFA Cup 2016

The Teutonic preoccupation with race

For the UEFA Cup in France, the German national football team bus has been emblazoned with the slogan "Vive la Mannschaft" or "Vive la team". At the same time, members of this team suffer public racist abuse. By Rene WildangelMore

Football as a force for integration: Success through diversity Qantara dossier: "Football and integration"Mesut Ozil: The polite boy with the faux-hawk

Still from ″Lantouri″ (source: International Film Festival Berlin)

Iranian feature film "Lantouri"

A society in close-up

Iranian film director Reze Dormishian's third film is a powerfully articulated indictment of some of his country's more dubious and controversial practices, such as the execution of children and adolescents, horrific acid attacks and retributive justice. By Rene Wildangel

Interview with Iranian filmmaker Reza Dormishian: The rage of an entire generation on screen Berlinale 2015: Golden Bear for Jafar Panahi's film "Taxi": An incredible feeling of warmth and humanity A taxi ride through Tehran

Palestinian film maker Hanna Atallah (photo: Ulf Bjerre)

Interview with Palestinian film maker Hanna Atallah

"Culture is our best bet"

Hanna Atallah is one of a group of Palestinians that is aiming to bring arthouse cinema to the Arab world. No small feat, in regions where the necessary infrastructure is lacking and the majority are more likely to stay home and watch television. Attending the Berlinale in February, he was interviewed by Rene WildangelMore

Berlinale 2016: Interview with Saudi director Mahmoud Sabbagh: ″Testing the water... to make a change"Palestinian feature film "Eyes of a Thief": A political family drama Najwa Najjar's "Pomegranates and Myrrh": Bitter-sweet life in Palestine

Saudi director Mahmoud Sabbagh (photo: picture-alliance/Tagesspiegel/K. Kleist-Heinrich)

Berlinale 2016: Interview with Saudi director Mahmoud Sabbagh

″Testing the water... to make a change"

Newcomer Mahmoud Sabbagh′s offering is pacy, anarchic and – unexpectedly for Saudi Arabia – a romantic comedy. A love story set against the vibrant youth culture of Jeddah, ″Barakah meets Barakah″ presents a new generation of social media-savvy Saudis and their very real expectations. Rene Wildangel met and interviewed Mahmoud Sabbagh at the BerlinaleMore

Germany′s Berlinale: Where film meets reality Ahmad Abdalla′s film ″Decor″: Let the audience decide what′s real Nabil Ayouch's film "Much Loved": Sinner or saint?

Likud campaign worker puts up a poster of Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem (photo: Reuters/R. Zvulun)

After the election in Israel

Palestine's hope in Netanyahu

While many in Israel were hoping for Netanyahu's electoral defeat, Palestinians were more reserved. They now expect the international community to exert more pressure on Israel. René Wildangel reports.More

General election in Israel: Elections for nothing Interview with Sari Nusseibeh: "Israelis and Palestinians will have to start thinking seriously about a one-state solution"Qantara-Topic: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Members of the Israeli army carrying out a raid in Hebron on 21 June 2014 (photo: Reuters/Mussa Qawasma)

The Israeli army in the West Bank

The punishment of Palestinian citizens

Israel's heavy-handed acts of retaliation against both Hamas and Palestinian civilians are threatening to provoke a new escalation of violence. The Israeli military deployment in the West Bank is the biggest since the end of the second Intifada in 2005. A commentary by René WildangelMore

Interview with the Israeli Peace Activist Uri Avnery: ''Israel Needs Peace, Not Settlements''The Palestinian Minority in Israel: Systematic Discrimination Essay by Tony Klug: Two States – by Design or Disaster Palestinian UN Initiative: A Positive Step

Hamas chief Ismail Hanija (right) and Fatah representative Azzam al-Ahmed in Gaza City on 23 April 2014 (photo: Reuters)

Reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah

No peace without Palestinian unity

The Palestinian organisations Hamas and Fatah plan to seal an alliance with each other – primarily out of necessity. Reconciliation is difficult; the danger of failure is great. It is for precisely this reason that the US and Europe should support the process. A commentary by René WildangelMore

Interview with Sari Nusseibeh: Plea for Radical Pragmatism Protests against the Palestinian Authority: ''The People Want to Bring down Oslo''Interview with Matt Beynon Rees: "Hamas and Fatah Have an Interest in the Conflict Continuing"

Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah (photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Palestinian UN Initiative

A Positive Step

No one can expect the Palestinians to wait for all eternity for their own state, while Israel's rightwing government uses settlement expansion to create its own version of the facts. A commentary by René WildangelMore

Protests against the Palestinian Authority: ''The People Want to Bring down Oslo''Middle East Peace Process: Palestinian Unity Required to Move Forward Palestinian Local Elections: A Determined Democracy

Author: René Wildangel

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