Inne światy? Regionalny versus globalny – odmienność jako wartość w wybranych słowackich filmach dokumentalnych

Abstract

During the last quarter of the century, Slovaks were faced with the problem of identity quite often. First, radical change in the perception of identity occurred right after the fall of the ‘iron curtain’. Isolationism was replaced by a new look at the world; however, the intensifying emancipation resulted in a split up with the Czech Republic and the formation of an independent state (1993). The following decade is characterised by trials and tribulations of a society which tries to join the European Union. The issues of identity are not only still a present element of sociopolitical life, but an interesting issue to many Slovak documentary filmmakers as well. Different concepts of national identity, respect for minorities (especially the Romani’s and Hungarians), social concept of multiculturalism and transculturalism are aptly recognised in documentary films, especially in the first decade of the new century. Filmmakers usually skip urban centres and large cities, focusing their interest on the provinces often located in distant corners of the eastern parts of the country. They present a simple picture of human life – authentic and convincing, but still appealing reflection on identity. We can analyse this phenomenon in the documentaries by Peter Kerekes (66 Seasons, Through the Border), Jaroslav Vojtek (Frontier), and Marko Škop (Other Worlds, Osadné).