Alexander O. Philippe’s new film The Taking explores the role of the majestic landscape of the Monument Valley in the conquest of the American West, whose interpretation is torn between the celebratory myth of brave white settlers and the cruel genocide of the indigenous people. A frequent guest at KVIFF, the director returns to the festival to discuss with the audience about his essayistic documentary.
The discussion at the Congress Hall, which continued despite a power outage at Hotel Thermal, revolved around heavy topics. “The depiction of the West in cinema still has a strong power for me. Myth plays an important role, yet we must also talk about the way how myths affect history, often in a negative way. I would love to see a film about Monument Valley told through the eyes of the Navajo Indians,” wished the Swiss-born, US-based filmmaker.
The main problem with the ideal of the American West in as portrayed in cinema is not in fact the large gap between the myth and reality. “The storyteller’s task is to serve the story and convey its message, to which end he can distort some facts. What worries me is that we overlook the need for empathy. And when myth is used as a tool for hurting someone, no good can come of that. We have to stop doing this,” Philippe urged.
