Praise for BARRICADE from FARRAGO magazine / Australia
Farrago Magazine Australia writes in it´s critics on BARRICADE:
… Barrikade’s cinematography deftly balances the bleak brutality of modern climate activism with the beauty of the natural world. It is shot in luscious, vivid colour, making the relevancy and immediacy of the activism all the more poignant. Armed police officers attempt to evict the protestors, and the harsh, stark black of their uniforms make a startling contrast to the lush greenery of the forest. Klammer makes wonderful use of natural light, often using the organic dappled effect of leaves to frame the activists’ faces and highlight their limbs as they deftly climb the trees and navigate the forest, all of which affirms their deep, intrinsic connection to the land. Clearly influenced by his background in portrait photography, Klammer’s cinematography lends an intimacy and vulnerability to his subjects not often seen in documentary filmmaking. The brightness and beauty of the Dannenrod Forest and its occupants are gloriously featured, a masterful portrayal by Kammer of the hope, courage, and strength under adversity demonstrated by the activists.
In classic German fashion, the ultimate tone that emerges over the course of the film is one of bleak optimism. Activists build makeshift grave markers from flowering boughs of the forest they swore to protect, people play musical instruments and sing in defiance of the attempts to silence them. Just as life and death are inexorably entwined in natural environments such as forests, so too are themes of home and protection intertwined in Barrikade. The activists find themselves creating a home, a community, and a precious environment they must protect and maintain.
Throughout his film Barrikade, Klammer seems to stress the importance of carving out space for the conservation and security, not just of one individual, but of our entire community, amidst an unjust and hostile world. In a COVID-19 ravaged world, shrunk for many to the size of a room or a house, Klammer’s film serves as a powerful imperative for us all, and a reminder of the enduring nature of the world around us.
