Long Time No Techno

Experimental Film / Found Footage / Germany, Ukraine / 1.33:1 (4:3) / Color / 03´45 min. / 2022

The footage used in the video comes from the archive of the Odesa Film Studio, which was the first film studio established in the Russian Empire. During the Soviet era, many films were shot there, which shaped the childhood of millions of people. However, today the film studio, like many other cultural monuments in Ukraine, is threatened with destruction by the Russian army.

The video features dancing moments from children's films of the 70s and 80s, which provide a glimpse into a carefree time of adventure, fantasy trips, and freedom. These scenes serve as illusions of a time that has since passed.

Momen Shaweesh, a Syrian-Palestinian multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer, incorporates his own war experiences into his music. He combines traditional oriental instruments such as the oud and kanun with techno beats and sounds of the new wave to create his unique style.

The resulting video essay, set to Shaweesh's music, is a recollection of a bygone era. Bakurin appropriates Soviet film footage to reclaim a memory of a lost childhood of two belligerent countries. The Video invites viewers to look for their own recollections in the same footage, creating an act of collective remembrance in the process.