Becoming Black
A white couple in East-Berlin (GDR) in the 1960s, tells their Black daughter that her skin color is pure coincidence and has no meaning. This is also what the girl prefers to believe, until she accidentally discovers the truth as a teenager.
Interview with Director Ines Johnson-Spain
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
In this autobiographical documentary film, I deal with the big taboo of my childhood about my African father and thus about my identity. It was a deep inner necessity for me to get to the bottom of what was unspoken and denied about me as a black person to appropriate my own history and therefore, also my life. I also had to deal with the structural racism I had internalized on a personal level in order to free myself from it.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
The film allows a deep insight into the reality of life in East Germany in the '60s/70s/80s, which was previously unwritten. It deals with universal themes such as family secrets, racism and the search for identity and opens up ways of dealing with them constructively. When the film moves to West Africa, it turns into a reflection on identity, family concepts and social norms.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Delving deep into a very personal and intimate cosmos on the one hand and telling the story in its social and political context on the other has broadened the view of this unique story. By not judging but simply trying to understand human behavior in all its weaknesses it becomes a universal one.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
Originally, the film was supposed to focus on my paternal grandfather, who fought in Dahomey against the French colonialists. Over time, I realized that it was first important to deal with myself and the taboos of my childhood, as they also had a very strong impact on my relationship with myself as a black person. It was a long inner struggle, which first found expression in writing, until I was able to start filming. The actual film was then ultimately created in the editing process.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Very often there were strong emotional reactions. The audience was very empathetic, respectful and appreciative. It's a movie that usually requires a lot of talking in the Q&As. It is always emphasized how courageous my role as protagonist and director is perceived. The film has received a lot of recognition both on the African continent, where it is partly set, and in Europe. There are various universities in the USA that have the film in their curriculum.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
The intensity of the reactions surprised me. I was also surprised by the fact that the film repeatedly inspired people to take action and confront taboos or secrets in their own families.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Since the film was severely affected by the pandemic and, unlike other areas of the world, had hardly any festival exploitation in the USA, I would like to see more visibility, especially in the USA.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Film festival directors, journalists, buyers, distributors.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
The same impact it has already had so far. That it creates understanding, encourages people to reflect, makes them empathize and inspires them to act with regard to their own taboos, breaks down prejudices against Black people, generates knowledge about the GDR, and entertains.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
The search for identity, the question of the origin of the taboo, the consequences for my life. But there is no spark necessary as the audience is always just starting to debate as it is usually emotionally moved.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I'm working on a new documentary essay film that is in the developing phase.
Interview: February 2024
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Becoming Black
A white couple in East-Berlin (GDR) in the 1960s, tells their Black daughter that her skin color is pure coincidence and has no meaning. This is also what the girl prefers to believe, until she accidentally discovers the truth as a teenager.
Length: 1:31:00
Director: Ines Johnson-Spain
Producer: Anahita Nazemi (Kobalt Productions)
Writer: Ines Johnson-Spain
About the writer, director and producer:
INES JOHNSON-SPAIN is an independent German-Togolese filmmaker and author, raised in East-Berlin (GDR). She studied Sciences of Religions at FU Berlin followed by being a guest-student at Fine Arts, Painting and Film History at the University of Arts Berlin and teaches scenic painting at Film University Babelsberg. She pursues teaching assignments on autobiographical films at different universities. The autobiographical documentary BECOMING BLACK premiered in 2019 at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam and received several national and international awards.
ANAHITA NAZEMI has been an independent producer of documentaries over the past 18 years. As the lead producer for international co-productions at major German documentary film production companies, such as TAG/TRAUM Cologne, gebrueder beetz filmproduction and since 2012 for Kobalt Documentary, she produced a multitude of documentaries for the international market – both for TV and cinema.
Looking for: journalists, buyers, film festival directors
Facebook: Ines Johnson-Spain
Instagram: @becomingblack_movie
Hashtags used: #becomingblack_movie
Website: becomingblack.de
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
US: on Kanopy Europe: Amazon, Youtube, Apple TV ,Canada: TVO
52min version on Al Jazeera