Tidal Settlers: A Film on Displacement and Survival Screens at Into The Great Wide Open

Juul Hondius, in collaboration with Montaser Alsabe and Abed Hussein, presents 'Tidal Settlers', a multi-screen film installation exploring themes of displacement, survival, and empathy. The work will be shown at the Into The Great Wide Open festival on Vlieland from August 27 to 30. The film depicts anonymous figures navigating a tidal landscape, building rafts from found materials to cope with rising waters, serving as a metaphor for climate change and forced migration. Hondius, who grew up with his mother's stories of wartime flight, was inspired by a documentary about wadlopers crossing from Texel to Vlieland in 1963. He collaborated with Alsabe and Hussein, both from Gaza and with film backgrounds, after posting a notice at Boost, an Amsterdam center for newcomers. The trio developed the scenario together, emphasizing trust and shared artistic language. The filming took place at sea, with some actors drawing on personal experiences of displacement. The project gained urgency after the October 7, 2023 attacks, as the artists dealt with uncertainty about family in Gaza. The installation includes a poetic image reminiscent of Caspar David Friedrich, symbolizing human resilience.