Homeland
Homeland by Debbie Blair
What do you consider your homeland? …and where is it….or where are they?
What is the relationship with idea of homeland and the physical space where you live?
Is there a relationship?
Do you think your idea of “home” is the same (or similar) to other people’s idea?
QUOTATION FROM THE PROGRAM NOTES: "Complex questions are asked in this 60-minute Vancouver premiere of the multimedia performance by Gotot Art Productions….. in their 2011 Dora award-nominated production of the meaning of home in the hybrid setting of physical theatre, live music and documentary film. The spoken – and of unspoken – words of the personalities in the film are translated into a solo performance by Actor/Performer Bahareh Yaraghi, against the beat of the drums by percussionist Lorenzo Castelli and flow of electronic sequences performed by sound designer and Music Composer Reza Moghaddas."
Homeland is a wonderful multi-dimensional presentation of the complex idea of home. I loved the “screen” on which the documentary film was projected, composed of layers of torn papers roughly attached together – heavier brown construction paper underneath and white tissue-ish paper.. more or less on top. The “screen” has bumps, lumps and bits and pieces - a physical, visceral representation of the various ideas of home..
The screen itself is one more manifestation in the complex idea of the meaning and feeling of “home” presented by this production.
I quoted from the program notes for the production in the second paragraph of this review and again will quote one more sentence from the program:“ This contemplative journey of words, sounds, and movement, will cause one to rethink the definition of home”.
It certainly did me. I also found the reactions of the audience reflects the diversity of ideas related to the concept of “home”.
At the end of the performance, about two thirds of the audience stood up for a standing ovation.
I didn’t and was startled that so many did. I suspect that many of members of the audience the night I attended were immigrants, for which this show resonated very strongly.
Why didn’t I stand up? I consider the dancer and music good, and the documentary very interesting. So why didn’t I stand up?
I am an “air force brat”. As a child my family moved and lived all across Canada and also for four years in Germany.
I have no particular emotional attachment to Canada, other than ease of life. Canada and being Canadian only means the geographical location in which I was born. It allows people to know how and categorize me. Living as a child in Europe, I realized people are built pretty much the same.
(As an adult I visited Istanbui, Turkey, enjoyed it but stumbled around since I was language challenged and was glad to get back “home”. But that was not a -Thank God! I’m home!”- “love-felt emotion”. – it was relief because I spoke the same language and knew what was going on (more or less). England, the US or other English dominated countries would have worked.
I have thought a lot about the ideas expressed by people in the documentary, the reactions of the audience I was part of, and the physical texture of the backdrop for the documentary. Therefore my “review” consisted of these thoughts.
Performer Bahareh Yaraghi and musicans Reza Moghaddas and Lorenzo Castelli – all gave wonderful performances.
I just thought you might be interested in yet an other view on the idea of ( r lack of) home. I have been thinking about the idea of home a great deal. If I have time I may return again to see the performance, to listen to the individuals in the documentary, and watch more closely the movement of Yaraghi and listen to the musicians…to see/hear and musically listen more deeply about the ideas being expressed by the different concepts contained in the idea of “home”. And to watch the audience for that particular show…will they react differently?
This is a thought-provoking show…worthy of many discussions with your friends and others. ….What does home mean to you?
I recommend this show.