HUMAN International Documentary Film Festival – Ruthless Times, Songs of Care 07.03-10.03.

Still image from Ruthless Times

Susanna Helke’s documentary musical Ruthless Times, Songs of Care will be screened at the HUMAN International Documentary Film Festival. In addition, the director will hold a masterclass on documentary making. 

Ruthless Times – Songs of Care is a documentary musical where nurses literally sing out their frustration over the privatization of Finnish elderly care.

What is being sacrificed in the streamlining and privatization of elderly care? In Ruthless Times – Songs of Care, the answer is crystal clear: the humanity of both patients and nurses. And how to convey this in a better way than through a musical? The nurses’ own experiences and despair at not being able to give the elderly the care they are entitled to makes for fierce songs, and paints a bleak picture of a treatment of humans that does not belong in a welfare state.

Masterclass with Susanna Helke – How to make a documentary musical

The masterclass is organized before the film screening on Tuesday 7th of March at 4 PM. During the masterclass the director of Ruthless Times – Songs of Care talks about the method and cinematic choices in making her documentary film with choir scenes.

Ruthless Times – Songs of Care
7 March 5:45 PM and 10 March 5 PM
Vega Scene – Kino EN, Oslo, Norway

How to Make a Documentary Musical -masterclass
7 March 4 PM
Vega Scene – Kino EN, Oslo, Norway

 

HUMAN International Documentary Film Festival is Oslo’s largest festival for Norwegian and International documentary film, and presents a programme dedicated to current human rights issues.

Read more on the Human-festival webpage.  

Susanna Helke’s attendance at HUMAN is supported by The Finnish-Norwegian Cultural Institute.

Image: Ruthless Times, Songs of Care