Remix by the 8th class, the Von Krahl class, of the Tartu University’s Viljandi Culture Academy
In 1995 Lars von Trier’s and Thomas Vinterberg’s manifesto Dogma 95 declared that cinema must not express anything apart from ideas and thoughts. Film must be stripped of everything theatrical – the nice interior, the focused lighting, the educated actor. Life must be revealed as we perceive it – as idiots in the rays of the cold and emotionless daylight spectrum, in the ugly and sad rooms. In 2010 Juhan Ulfsak and Anni Ojanen asked the students graduating from the 8th class of the Tartu University’s Viljandi Culture Academy to step aside and look at themselves for a moment. To see themselves the way we do – we who represent the statistical bug-eye of the statistical Estonian visiting the theater. They saw a human bundle that makes confusing selections, is socially inadequate and bases self-confidence on an incomprehensible foundation. In terms of capital, they saw a herd of “empty souls” who are dangerous to themselves and others. They saw actors in today’s Estonia – the voluntary idiots.
This brutal epiphany has given birth to the Von Krahl students’ remix of the von Trier film “The Idiots” and provided a directorial debut for Juhan Ulfsak.
Director: JUHAN ULFSAK Dramatization: ANNI OJANEN Translation: ÜLEV AALOE Video design: EMER VÄRK Design: JUHAN ULFSAK Design assistance: MARION UNDUSK Lighting: OLIVER KULPSOO Technical execution: ALLAN RÄIM, JANNO JAANUS, ENAR TARMO Graphics: ARBO TAMMIKSAAR
ON STAGE are the graduates of Von Krahl class, the 8th class of the Tartu University’s Viljandi Culture Academy: Jim Ashilevi, Kait Kall, Ott Kartau, Katre Kaseleht, Liis Lindmaa, Loore Martma, Maili Metssalu, Madis Mäeorg, Tõnis Niinemets, Mari Pokinen, Ivo Reinok, Siim Sups, Ragne Veensalu and Kirsti Villard.
