Swiss filmmaker Edgar Hagen will debut his documentary, 'The Roots of Madness,' at the 57th Visions du Réel festival in Nyon, Switzerland, on Sunday, April 19. The film investigates the long-term consequences of Western intervention in the Middle East, a perspective Hagen argues is crucial for understanding contemporary refugee movements and rising xenophobia. Hagen stated to The Hollywood Reporter that many people in the West misinterpret the causes of migration.
Edgar Hagen, a director known for films like 'Who Are We?' and 'Journey to the Safest Place on Earth,' has spent years grappling with the complexities of global migration. His latest work, 'The Roots of Madness,' represents a deeply personal statement, Hagen shared with The Hollywood Reporter. He contends that understanding the origins of displacement is essential for addressing the societal divisions currently observed in Western democracies.
The filmmaker believes that popular narratives often misattribute the causes of refugee flows. Here is a number that matters: The year 2015 saw millions of refugees, predominantly from the Middle East, arrive in Europe. This influx inadvertently fueled the rise of xenophobic extremism across the continent, according to a summary on the Visions du Réel festival website.
Hagen’s film seeks to dissect the promises of “liberation” and “democracy” often cited for Western interventions in the region. He aims to reveal how these actions have contributed to the current humanitarian situation. The documentary follows veteran German journalist Ulrich Tilgner on what is described as a farewell journey.
Tilgner, who has covered conflict zones for German and Swiss broadcasters for decades, revisits former contacts and friends in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. His method involves engaging with ordinary citizens, seeking to understand the atmosphere and feelings on the ground, rather than solely focusing on political figures. This approach, Hagen noted, provided a clearer picture of the suffering endured by people connected to these wars.
It reveals why people become refugees. Hagen explained his initial motivation to The Hollywood Reporter, admitting he felt lost in understanding the situation as Western societies began to close borders and construct barriers. “What the hell is going on here?!” he recounted thinking. This personal confusion drove him to investigate the root causes, leading him to believe that one must go to the places from which people are fleeing.
This impulse was the genesis for the film. He views the project as an attempt to find the larger picture, beyond immediate headlines. Tilgner’s extensive experience in the region made him an ideal collaborator.
His focus on human stories, rather than just official statements, aligned with Hagen’s vision. The journalist understood the suffering that compels people to leave their homes. This shared perspective helped Hagen conceptualize the film’s title, 'The Roots of Madness.' It speaks to the idea of uncovering the core reasons behind mass displacement.
People do not want to leave; they are forced to leave. This is a crucial distinction Hagen wants Western audiences to grasp. The film extends its scope beyond the Middle East, taking audiences to Niger, Greece, and Serbia.
These locations highlight different facets of the migration journey, from points of origin in Africa to transit countries and entry points into Europe. The documentary juxtaposes authentic voices and images from conflict zones with Western values and political decisions, as described by the Visions du Réel website. It creates an unflinching yet sensitive indictment, occupying a space between outrage and melancholy.
Hagen explicitly stated his intention to focus on the West’s role in the rise of groups like the Taliban. He seeks to demonstrate “how we are helping to produce this radicalism,” rather than solely condemning the groups themselves. This perspective challenges a common narrative that often externalizes the problem.
It forces viewers to consider the complex interplay of international relations and local consequences. Strip away the noise, and the story is simpler than it looks: Western policy decisions have tangible, often unintended, consequences far from the capitals where they are made. Hagen drew a distinction between past justifications for intervention and more recent approaches.
He recalled that during the Iraq War, figures like George W. Bush presented interventions as efforts for peace and democracy. However, Hagen argues that under former U.S.
President Donald Trump, the effort to provide such justifications largely disappeared. Trump, Hagen observed, did not expend the same effort to defend Western values in his approach to international conflict. This shift, Hagen believes, makes people question the underlying motives and understand “what we are losing.”
The perception of conflict has changed. Hagen pointed to the recently started war in Iran as an example where justifications are less articulated. He questioned how leaders attack other countries without robust defense of values, and why the public might agree or allow it to happen.
This lack of clear rationale, in Hagen’s view, further obscures the mechanisms that drive conflict and, consequently, migration. It complicates the public's ability to understand the full picture. The film, produced by Hagen and Mathias Hefel via Vollbild Film GmbH, aims to prompt dialogue.
Börres Weiffenbach served as cinematographer, with editing by Christian Büttiker and Audrey Maurion. Hagen hopes the documentary will not only clarify the origins and reasons for migration but also encourage audiences to reflect on future directions for Western values. “Why is it going this way is the big question of the film,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. He also wants people to consider where society wants to head in terms of its core principles.
This dialogue, Hagen believes, could lead to different approaches for dealing with adversarial actors. He suggested that bringing individuals to court, rather than resorting to violence, might be a more effective strategy. Killing them, he argued, only produces more radicalism, perpetuating an endless cycle of violence.
He sees this as being in the West’s own interest. The filmmaker seeks a healthier debate around these issues. - The documentary 'The Roots of Madness' links Western interventions to global refugee crises. - Filmmaker Edgar Hagen and journalist Ulrich Tilgner explore conflict zones like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. - Hagen argues understanding the origins of displacement is key to combating xenophobia in the West. - The film premieres on April 19 at the Visions du Réel festival in Nyon, Switzerland. Audiences attending the Visions du Réel festival will have the first opportunity to engage with Hagen’s challenging perspective.
The film's debut could spark renewed discussions among policymakers and the public about the historical responsibilities tied to current migration patterns. Observers will watch to see if Hagen's call for dialogue finds traction beyond the festival circuit, potentially influencing how European nations frame their foreign policy and immigration strategies in the coming months.
Key Takeaways
— - The documentary 'The Roots of Madness' links Western interventions to global refugee crises.
— - Filmmaker Edgar Hagen and journalist Ulrich Tilgner explore conflict zones like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.
— - Hagen argues understanding the origins of displacement is key to combating xenophobia in the West.
— - The film premieres on April 19 at the Visions du Réel festival in Nyon, Switzerland.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter