Description
The Elephant & The Room is an essay film that explores themes of immigration, colonialism
and Western double-standards. The story develops from the bizarre news about African
elephants making their way —illegally— to Germany, which at first seems like an absurd
news headline but gradually reveals a darker and more troubling reality.
Divided into four chapters, the story covers the complex colonial history between Western
Europe and African elephants leading to the present-day relations. Through subtle twists and
criticism in narration, the film explores the implications of the Western political systems
regarding immigration and the violence of Western colonialism in the global south.
Director’s Statement:
Amidst disastrous humanitarian crises in the global south and the rising of anti-immigration
sentiment and nationalism in Western European political discourse, the need for genuine and
productive dialogue is more urgent than ever. The Elephant & The Room is an invitation for
critical reflection and discussion on the issues systematically marginalised in Western socio-
political discourse, particularly surrounding immigration and colonialism. The legacy of
colonial violence and injustice is shown to be rooted in every struggle coming from the
global south. Therefore, It’s about time we admit that the elephant isn’t the reason behind
our discomfort, but the room itself is all along.
Director
Anas Qadamani
Anas Qadamani (1998, Damascus, Syria) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Rotterdam.
He began his artistic journey in Syria as a classical cellist, before he fled the country at the
age of 17. In late 2015, he arrived in the Netherlands where he continued his classical music
studies. Shortly after, his practice expanded to include still and moving imagery, sound
design, and composing for film and TV productions. His work is deeply influenced by his
war and later migration experience, critically addressing systemic violence and the ongoing
struggle of the Global South.
