Tijmen Bergman

Movies

The Flood
Sound
The decision to move to Holland doesn't sound like a wise idea. Why move to a country that could be flooded at any moment? For the last 25 years, the political climate has shifted. The public debate on migration has become harsher, more heated, and polarized. What would have been considered right-wing xenophobia back then, is now considered mainstream. Populists simplify complex realities into good and evil, victims and perpetrators: ‘us’ versus ‘them’. Their rhetoric often consists of dehumanizing words and metaphors. One of these is ‘water’. In reality, water is not an immediate threat to the average Dutch person; but it is a huge threat to the thousands trying to reach the Netherlands. People trying to survive the Mediterranean Sea in rubber boats. Trying to survive winter on the Aegean coast in primitive tents. To them, water really is deadly.
Firas
Music
Firas sails together with his Syrian countrymen towards Europe. While crossing the Mediterranean Sea a plane crashes near their boat. Among all the debris, one little girl miraculously survives. The refugees manage to bring her aboard the ship; in shock and confused. Firas is confounded by the presence of the girl. Soon his state of mind starts to work against him.
Firas
Sound Designer
Firas sails together with his Syrian countrymen towards Europe. While crossing the Mediterranean Sea a plane crashes near their boat. Among all the debris, one little girl miraculously survives. The refugees manage to bring her aboard the ship; in shock and confused. Firas is confounded by the presence of the girl. Soon his state of mind starts to work against him.