I thought this introduction was worth transcribing because it is one of the most powerful and poetic things I’ve ever heard, and I don’t want it to be forgotten in the wave of celebration of the artistry of his film, Residue. See the video below, followed by the transcript.
Hello, my name is Merawi Gerima
I’m with the team behind Residue
Residue is an imperfect attempt to capture the remaining pieces of my community before they disappear forever
It is an attempt to say “we existed”, and to say it with cinematography, instead of leaving it to archaeology
It is a film about not going extinct
It is about not being buried
It is about doing your best to not explode
About not becoming a statistic
About not falling for the decoys
About loving while we still can
About making it home to our families
When I finished this film, I thought I had gotten the rage off my chest
I thought I had found peace
But now, here in the summer of two thousand twenty
I find myself overflowing with a rage that cannot be contained
And so I present to you Residue, which is not a film
It is a weapon in every sense of the word
It is a blade that we fashioned to the best of our ability
And which we fully intend to use against those who seek to destroy us.
