“It’s so fucking scary, the world we live in, the inevitable doom that we’re heading towards.” These are the words of Salome, one of the main characters of All Fun Aside, who is both a climate activist and a comedian. An unexpected combination of activities, you might think.
How do climate activists have fun in the midst of the seriousness of the climate crisis and the intensity of their activism? Can humour be part of the resistance?
All Fun Aside explores the seemingly contradicting duality of the fun and the serious. Exuberant dances during a university occupation, card games on a highway blockade and excited stories of police escapes are just a few examples of how this film shows the ways in which fun can unfold in activists contexts. Through immersing in the experiences of activists and portraying their stories, this ethnographic documentary presents how fun and humour might actually be indispensable aspects of activism.
By delving into what role fun and humour plays in climate activism, I intent to shed light on movements of resistance while approaching this through a topic that has the potential to transcend differences between people. In an era where it becomes more and more clear that we cannot continue to live our lives like we are currently doing, I aim to amplify the voices of people that present alternatives. But real and systemic change can only be mobilized when it is done collectively. So I thought, what better way to bring people together than by having a good laugh?
Trailer
Bio
Anouk Bouma is a fresh graduate visual anthropologist with a background in international development studies. Through visual storytelling she wants to shed light on inequalities in the world and give a voice to the people who propose alternative ways of life that are more inclusive and sustainable. Social movements of resistance is the central theme of her interests and especially the topics of activism, regenerative agriculture and intersectional ecofeminism are close to her heart. Through her work, Anouk aims to bring people together and inspire to explore different ways of thinking and doing.