Screening and Discussion
DogFriend (Hundefreund)
With Lamin Leroy Gibba, Maissa Lihedheb, Sailesh Naidu and Magnus Elias Rosengarten
On 4 June, the Gropius Bau will show the recently released short film DogFriend (Hundefreund) in attendance of the filmmakers Sailesh Naidu, Maissa Lihedheb and Lamin Leroy Gibba. The subsequent conversation will be moderated by Magnus Elias Rosengarten.
YOYI! Care, Repair, HealWith rigorous specificity, DogFriend explores the complexities of race in Germany by telling the story of Malik, a Black and queer man in his mid-twenties, meeting a white man for a date, which takes an unexpected turn. The film boldly oscillates between comedy, drama, character study, and cinematic experimentation and explores themes of love, race, and mental health – while subtly (and at times loudly) suggesting that they are intrinsically connected.
DogFriend had its world premiere at the British Film Institute Flare Festival in London, its German premiere at the XPOSED Film Festival and is an Official Selection of the Tribeca Film Festival 2022 in New York City. The film is in German with English subtitles. The subsequent conversation will be held in English (with English subtitles).
The screening serves as a prelude to Breathe, a discourse programme that unfolds in echo to the upcoming exhibition On Caring, Repairing and Healing (working title, on view from 16 September 2022) and explores how different power relations impact our ability to breathe.