dEar FatHEr , YOUr daUGHtEr (liEBEr PaPa , dEiNE tOCHtEr)

Identity politics? For Karoline’s father all woke and other idealistic ideas are only there to distract us from the real problems. But Karoline, who is also the director of the film, stands her ground and tries to communicate with her father about uneasy topics. Unavoidably their conversations get personal.

The film is a desktop documentary, showcasing snippets from videos made by influencers, activists and politicians, news articles and mail exchanges. Karoline’s cursor moves across the screen and the viewer has to keep up with the fast-paced rhythm of footage popping up and disappearing again. It emphasises how social media has become a vessel that fuels political discourse and movements like #metoo and #blacklivesmatter. This never-ending stream of information and opinions is interrupted by the telephone signal, when Karoline waits for her dad to pick up the call.

In their conversations both choose their words carefully and try to reflect and understand each other, which creates tensions nevertheless. It takes courage to voice what is important for them because they do not want to strain their relationship. The film does not claim that the protagonists speak for their generations because it is focused on their personal relationship and dialogues. Karoline includes old family videos that show the director as a child, looking up to her dad and getting encouraged by him.

Disagreeing with one’s parents can happen easily, and even more easily about politics. With socio-economic and environmental challenges ahead young people seem to be more interested in political subjects and demand their voices to be heard. The film underlines that it is worth listening and to communicate with each other, even or because the conversation is not over and will certainly continue.

Karoline Rößler’s film was part of the doxs! festival programme in 2022. Furthermore, it was discussed in the intergenerational conference “Beyond age limitations: Positions and practic- es of documentary film between the generations“ that was organised by doxs! and continues with its partner festival the Duisburger Filmwoche.

Director: Karoline Rößler

Germany, 2021, 17’

Production: University Hildesheim

Contact: karoline.roessler@outlook. com –

Tanja Tlatlik

The Doxspot column is published with the help of the doxs! festival for children & youth documentaries in Duisburg. www.do-xs.de.