"Collective" Director Alexander Nanau How was this shocking documentary that captures the "moment" that exposes the injustices of the state created? [Director's Interview Vol.147]

I want to portray and understand people who fight for something.

Q: What was surprising was that even though so much corruption was reported, young voter turnout was low in the election that followed. There is a similar situation in Japan, but are low voter turnout and apathy towards politics among the young generation a problem in Romania as well?

Nanau: This work mainly depicts the events of 2016, at a time when it was reported that Russia had interfered in the US presidential election, and there was a widespread feeling of disappointment in politics around the world. I believe that this situation may have contributed to the low turnout. Even if we vote, nothing will change and the same politicians will come to power again anyway.

But things have since changed. In Romania, elections were held even during the pandemic, and young people started voting at that time, and the turnout among young people was higher than among middle-aged and older people. Change is happening slowly.

“Collective” ©Alexander Nanau Production, HBO Europe, Samsa Film 2019

Q: I think many viewers who watch this film will realize the importance of voting in elections. Is the motivation that drives directors to make documentaries really the desire to improve society?

Nanau: To be honest, I don't know if that kind of feeling is what drives me. However, I want to understand people who fight for something or are motivated to change society.

I was originally an immigrant, and for a long time I was caught between two societies. Therefore, I have always been driven by a strong desire to understand what it means to belong to a nation and to fight for something.

The movie I made helped the audience understand why people have to fight against injustice, so I think it turned out well.

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Director: Alexander Nanau

German-Romanian film director born in Romania in 1979. Studied directing at the Berlin Film and Television Academy (DFFB). Won the International Emmy Award in 2010 for the documentary film ``THE WORLD ACCORDING TO ION B'' (2009). The feature-length documentary film Toto and his Sisters (2014) was nominated for the 2015 European Academy Award. The film was widely distributed internationally and screened at film festivals around the world. Served as director of photography for the French-German documentary film ``NOTHINGWOOD'' (original title) directed by Sonia Kronlund (2017). The film premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival Directors' Fortnight. His latest feature-length documentary, Collective, premiered in the Official Selection (Out of Competition) at the Venice International Film Festival 2019 and became the first Romanian film to receive an Academy Award nomination. A co-production between Samsa Film (Luxembourg) and HBO Europe.

Interview and text: Tetsuya Inagaki

TV director. My personal goal is to realize a documentary project that depicts the obsessions of manga and movie creators. Programs he has directed in the past include ``The Godfather : The Man Who Revolutionized Manga'' (WOWOW), ``Takeshi's Birth: Master and Asakusa'' (NHK), ``Master and Disciple Story: The Encounter That Changed My Life'' [Masahiro Tanaka x Katsuya Nomura ] (NHK BS Premium).

"Collective"

10/2 (Sat) Theater Image Forum, Human Trust Cinema Yurakucho and other nationwide roadshows

Distribution: Transformers

©Alexander Nanau Production, HBO Europe, Samsa Film 2019