An intimate evening with LIMBO -

We enjoyed sharing the work of Scottish filmmaker Ben Sharrock alongside astounding artistic contributors Divine Southgate-Smith (artwork) and YAZID BENSELKA, aka badbad_immigrant (sound). Limbo is shot on the coast of Scotland, an expansive breathtaking landscape that allows us to feel the stretch of time across each shot. Between the space and the time lie four immigrants seeking asylum salvation. The overtones of humour are evident in how each character copes - the directing style is a deadpan delight washing down their absurd experience.

Casting for friendships - Limbo film review

On a fictional remote Scottish island where a group of refugees await the possibility of being granted asylum, ‘limbo’ represents that in-between state of fleeing and arriving. In this film, it also connotes an absurdist tenderness of the heart, which grows as we come to better understand these characters. It is a friend who peels your orange, minutes after it lies nestled in your injured arm unable to bend from its cast. It is he who shares your coat through winter, after choosing a ping pong bat from the donation centre instead of thermals. It is a secret recipe your mother echoes across the desolate landscape from an oddly placed payphone, and the supermarket cashier who surprises you with that key ingredient, Sumac. It is obediently carrying your Oud everywhere you go, yet being unable to play it.

Echoes of an impartial reality

While brilliantly stoic protagonist Omar (Amir ElMasry) carries the plot forwards in Limbo (2020), his flatmates are often the most moving and interesting to observe. Farhad (Vikash Bhai) has both a moustache and stolen pet chicken in honour of his hero Freddie Mercury. Brothers Wasef (Ola Orebiyi) and Abedi (Kwabena Ansah) argue over the former’s ambition to play for Chelsea football club, and whether or not Ross and Rachel were actually on a break. Offbeat humour is consistently undercut with harsh truths as Wasef bluntly asserts the position his new friends occupy within society: “We’re all male, single, low priority. Past our sell by date.” This notion of yearning for something out of reach recurs when Omar explains the Arabic expression, ‘Bukra fil Mish-Mish’ (Tomorrow, there will be apricots), used to refer to something that will never happen. Farhad sadly translates this to a sentiment that echoes a reality many refugees face upon entering Britain, hoping to be welcomed warmly: “In your dreams”.

REDEYE X Dissolve Into:

Like we do after each film, we enjoyed an engaging and insightful conversation this time facilitated by workshop leader Elan Gamaker. 

It was an insightful evening with Elan, a Screenwriter and Course Leader in BA Filmmaking at Kingston University and the Founding Director of Dissolve Into:, a feeder scheme for new screenwriting talent. Elan guided a roundtable session, breaking down Limbo tonally and thematically.

With great finesse, director Ben Sharrock lays out a resonant depiction of refugee experiences in Limbo with parallels across all immigrant stories. It left the room thick and in need of an outlet.

At the roundtable, Elan began with his immediate connection with the story: his family's immigrant experience and his wife’s dual heritage. His response was questioning - how to maintain identity with restricted movement and time. Elan’s honesty and vulnerability permitted each person's contribution to further ventilate their thoughts. Now relaxed, we were ready to share and encouraged to analyse the film by drawing on our perspectives to help develop ideas on how to represent them on the screen. 

The evening was the first of an ongoing part of REDEYE's programme in collaboration with Dissolve Into:, in search of new voices in screenwriting. And the first of more video recorded conversations that will increase accessibility and engagement beyond the screening event.

A Growing community with Southwark College

To enrich British creative culture is to encourage new voices and provide the opportunity to develop existing ones. To meet this desire, we reached out to Southwark college, a deep pocket of undismissable talent. It is necessary to integrate their potential into a community embracing its expressions. The scope of our programme must be intentionally open and embrace these young people who come through our ongoing relationship with the college’s creative department. They are taking the initial steps toward a sustainable creative career by engaging with their practice outside the academic environment and having open didactic conversations and workshops. It was great to have these creative minds a part of the conversation.

Artwork - Divine Southgate-Smith

Heaven’s own and one of REDEYE’s great loves, Divine Southgate-Smith is Togo-born and well travelled. She is an artist with an unlimited scope because she creates with love, which shines throughout her past exhibitions. Divine’s sculptures are voluptuous, shaped with bold curves; her words and images are evoking; and her video and sound immerse you into the depths of her conscience. As an archivist and constructivist, she has an ever-growing affinity to histories, moving beyond representation, and hypothesising towards an activist future.

Though Divine’s roots are affirmed in Togo, she is a nomad cusp- her 3D-rendered landscapes of continual soft-paced movement seem to contextualise her migratory history. The architecture within her landscapes set against a combination of video research excerpts with soundscapes and spoken words convey Divine’s thoughts during those periods. As we follow Divine’s lead, between the structures, the movement feels like dancing: it is instinctive, considered and seductive and speaks to a general desire for freedom of being, of loving.

Like dancing, the movement feels both instinctive and considered as we flow between the structures. It is a skill that is seductive, and it speaks to a general desire for freedom of being, of loving. As we follow Divine between the structures the movement feels like dancing, it is both instinctive and considered.

Playlist by - YAZID BENSELKA, AKA badbad_immigrant 

Divine’s love draws profound relationships that have grown into a transatlantic network. These people are guides that familiarise Divine with new landscapes to continue her mesmerising pace.
One of such bonds we got in contact with is Algeria born YAZID BENSELKA, aka badbad_immigrant, who migrated to Paris 4 years ago. Aka badbad_immigrant is currently in the midst of a similar migrant experience, configuring identity in a transitional space. Although we have not developed a personal relationship with badbad_immigrant, the soundscape is detailed with identity: bustling, electric and daring. There is a clear assurance of self, irrespective of acceptance- it dares listeners to attempt to keep up. You can feel badbad_immigrant dancing against a Parisian landscape through the French immigration Limbo. There is inexplicable freedom and fluidity when you play, to pass forwards and under without falling or dislodging the bar, because caution induces tension and tension anxiety.
Writers: Tilly & Fikayo