Harun Farocki's Legacy: Essay Films That Let Capitalism Hang Itself

Harun Farocki passed away on July 30, 2014, having produced more than 120 films and installations distinguished by their conceptual clarity and political engagement. His 1969 film 'Inextinguishable Fire' critiques the Vietnam War by illustrating the effects of napalm injuries. Farocki's approach sidestepped Brecht's instructional style and Godard's narrative ambiguity, uncovering truths through everyday experiences. In the 2009 work 'Zum Vergleich,' he examined capitalist evolution through brick-making methods. The 1990 piece 'How to Live in the Federal Republic of Germany' revealed how ideologies shape individual identities through simulations. His 1987 film 'Indoctrination' depicted corporate leaders practicing self-presentation. Notable works include 'Videograms of a Revolution' (1992) and the 'Serious Games' series. His filmmaking journey began after being expelled from film school for radical views at 25.