Synopsis

Set to the verses of W.H. Auden's 1939 poem, “Refugee Blues” charts a day in 'the jungle', the refugee camp outside Calais. More intimate and unlike much of what has been seen in the mass media, this documentary poem counterpoints the camp’s harsh reality of frequent clashes with the French riot police with its inhabitants’ longing for a better future.

Refugee Blues by W. H. Auden (1939)

Say this city has ten million souls,Some are living in mansions, some are living in holes:Yet there's no place for us, my dear, yet there's no place for us.

Once we had a country and we thought it fair,Look in the atlas and you'll find it there:We cannot go there now, my dear, we cannot go there now.

In the village churchyard there grows an old yew,Every spring it blossoms anew:Old passports can't do that, my dear, old passports can't do that.

The consul banged the table and said,"If you've got no passport you're officially dead":But we are still alive, my dear, but we are still alive.

Went to a committee; they offered me a chair;Asked me politely to return next year:But where shall we go to-day, my dear, but where shall we go to-day?

Came to a public meeting; the speaker got up and said;"If we let them in, they will steal our daily bread": He was talking of you and me, my dear, he was talking of you and me.

Thought I heard the thunder rumbling in the sky;It was Hitler over Europe, saying, "They must die":O we were in his mind, my dear, O we were in his mind.

Saw a poodle in a jacket fastened with a pin,Saw a door opened and a cat let in:But they weren't German Jews, my dear, but they weren't German Jews.

Went down the harbour and stood upon the quay,Saw the fish swimming as if they were free: Only ten feet away, my dear, only ten feet away.

Walked through a wood, saw the birds in the trees;They had no politicians and sang at their ease:They weren't the human race, my dear, they weren't the human race.

Dreamed I saw a building with a thousand floors,A thousand windows and a thousand doors:Not one of them was ours, my dear, not one of them was ours.

Stood on a great plain in the falling snow;Ten thousand soldiers marched to and fro: Looking for you and me, my dear, looking for you and me.

– W.H. Auden (1939)

TeamStephan Bookas (Director / Producer / Cinematographer)

Stephan is a German/American, London based filmmaker, producer and cinematographer. He has shot and directed award winning documentaries and short fiction films across much of the globe including India, Siberia, Turkey, Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Cuba, China and North Korea and is currently in postproduction for his first feature-length documentary and in preproduction for multiple international fiction, animation and documentary projects.

Tristan Daws (Director / Producer / Sound)

Tristan is a London-based, documentary filmmaker. His work has often focused on the marginalised in society, particularly in the field of mental health. He has been commissioned to direct several international documentary productions, and is currently in post-production on his first feature documentary, about the relationship between a young man and his schizophrenic father.

Christoph Zirngibl (Composer)

Christoph is a film composer based in Munich, Germany. His filmography, counting 50+ movies, includes box office and primetime hits as well as renowned arthouse and indie productions. For his works he has been awarded and nominated several times, e.g. for the Music&Sound International Awards (nominated, 2015), Jerry Goldsmith Award “best young composer” (won, 2007), regional Emmy “Iowa’s World War II Stories” (won, 2006) and the German Film Music Newcomer Award (won, 2005). (www.ChristophZirngibl.com)

Vladimir Rizun (Sound Design / Sound Mix)

Vladimir is a Ukrainian, Moscow based sound recordist, sound designer and producer. He has recorded and edited sound for award winning documentaries. He was lucky to work with numerous great documentary directors from Netherland, the UK, USA, France, Germany etc. After having produced last year’s award winning “Nation On Fire”, a documentary about the Ukrainian revolution, Vladimir is now in preproduction for several international documentary projects.

Lajos Pataki (Colourist)

Lajos is of Hungarian origin and is an award-winning colourist with over 15 years of industry experience. He was fortunate to work with several world renowned filmmakers including the Academy Award winning Istvan Szabó, Lajos Koltai, Terry Jones and Peter Hannan. He's helped create adverts for global agencies and well-known multinational companies. Working on some of the biggest feature films and commercials across the world, he is one of the most up-and-coming colourists at the moment. Lajos’ specialty is working with RAW formats such as RED, Sony, and Arriraw.

Sharyhan Osman (Vocals)

Shary is a Munich based singer and songwriter with Egyptian roots. Besides doing studio jobs (e.g. Disney) and live performances (DIVA award, Allianz Arena etc.) she is also singing and writing for movies (e.g." Kleine Ziege, sturer Bock") and advertising (e.g." Skoobe", " Schwartau"). In 2010 she reached 5th place in the TV Show "Unser Star für Oslo”, largely with her own compositions.

Deryn Cullen (Cello)

Deryn Cullen is a South African cellist and composer based in the UK, where she has lived since completing her music degree in 2000. Deryn's career as a cellist has ranged from playing with South African and British orchestras, performing with cabaret artists, playing with numerous London based bands, performing with No Fit State Circus and recording as a soloist and session musician for film and media composers all over the world.

Giacomo Castellano (Guitars)

Giacomo Castellano is a Guitarist, producer and arranger from Florence, Italy, working across Europe. He's known for his musical versatility and open minded vision of music, which allowed him to take part in very different musical projects during his professional career (e.g. Gianna Nannini, Claudio Simonetti, Irene Grandi, Adriano Celentano, Elisa, Edurne), beginning in 1988, after graduating at M.I. in Hollywood.

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