Diaspora Movies

With the latest success of Slumdog Millonaire, some articles were mentioning that what made this typical “Bollywood” movie a favorite of the masses was the director’s ability to appeal to an audience beyond the Indian diaspora. It made me think of all the Argentine movies I have watched outside Argentina in the past seven years and a half, and the role movies have in building diaspora networks. In 2003, with the Center of Argentines in Washington DC we organized the first Argentine movie series, making use of contacts at the school I had just graduated from. We even managed to charge 3 dollars per show, to support further activities and projects. The event was successful as it not only appealed to argentines but also the international Washingtonian community. The Argentine Ambassador and his wife showed up to one of the showings of a documentary about a group of political activits that were disappeared without a trace in the 60s. They and many of us had tears in our eyes at the end, and went for dinner at the ambassador’s residency, to continue sharing the sudden feeling of closeness the movie had made us experience. Movies are a central part of my life far away. They bring me closer to what I love the most from our country, its costumes, colors, accents, landscapes. The monthly movie nights that the Argentine-Dutch Foundation organizes here in The Hague at the Argentine Embassy are a perfect occasion to meet and catch up with others, comment on the development of the film industry in our country, promote argentine culture, and strengthen our network. Movies are a concrete and perfect diaspora “calling” mechanism! Related article from the Nollywood perspective.

The Jewish Diaspora

For a while now I have been trying to find some resources that approach and address the Jewish Diaspora from a historical but concise perspective. This article by Jewish peace activist Uri Avnery provides an overview and interesting approach: how Jewish diaspora changed from a 'normal' diaspora to a 'nationalist' diaspora, and argues for the need to recognise the difference between a Diaspora and a state. Full article accessible at the Daily Times: OPINION: The lion and the gazelle