In the Works: YOU CANNOT KILL US, WE ARE A PART OF YOU

The fate of the unique autonomous community of Christiania in the heart of Copenhagen is the subject of this documentary.

Directors Robert Lawson and Richard Jackman have gained access to the residents of Christiania to tell the story of the “free state” founded forty years ago by anarchist squatters on an abandoned military base. Pressured by public sentiment, the Danish government allowed the community to continue to exist as a “social experiment,” and the residents developed their own unique collective culture and identity. Christiania has its own eye-catching flag (pictured), industries, laws, and open soft drug trade. Tensions have grown between the residents and the Danish government in recent years, as the property Christiania inhabits is valuable real estate seemingly ripe for development. Lawson and Jackman focus their film on this potential catastrophic change to the free state’s existence, speaking to residents, government officials, and Danes outside of Christiania’s boundaries.

Having filmed since 2006, the project is currently in post-production, with a Kickstarter campaign seeking $12,800 for various post costs, including color correction, sound design, and an original score. With only eleven days left, the filmmakers still have more than 2/3rds of their goal to raise, so if you are so inclined, consider donating ASAP. More information about the film, and longer clips, may be found on the filmmakers’ website.

I’d never heard about Christiania before my friend and indieWIRE colleague Peter Knegt told me about visiting the community while he was in Copenhagen for CPH:DOX last fall. It sounded fascinating and I was surprised that it wasn’t better known after so many years, though reports of a general uneasiness with filming there helps to explain that. In any case, I was excited to learn that Lawson and Jackman were making a documentary. They clearly have earned the trust of many of the residents, so I look forward to seeing the final film and learning more about the alternative state and the complex issues it has engendered in Danish culture, politics, and society. I do wonder if the filmmakers might want to reconsider their lengthy, unwieldy, and un-titlelike title, however – CHRISTIANIA as an alternate sounds pretty good to me…