Mutual intrusions: Ulrich Seidl's Import/Export through Jean-Luc Nancy

Ulrich Seidl's Import/Export (2007a) explores issues of migration and foreignness in contemporary Europe in close relation to themes of community, contact, exposure and corporeality which, in their combination and interconnectedness, are also at the heart of Jean-Luc Nancy's philosophy. Im...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Studies in European cinema 2012-01, Vol.9 (1), p.53-67
Main Author: Hilpert, Stephan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
body
community
Jean-Luc Nancy
migration
touch
Ulrich Seidl
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Ulrich Seidl's Import/Export (2007a) explores issues of migration and foreignness in contemporary Europe in close relation to themes of community, contact, exposure and corporeality which, in their combination and interconnectedness, are also at the heart of Jean-Luc Nancy's philosophy. Import/Export does not exhibit any obvious connection to Nancy: it is neither based on his philosophy, nor has he commented on the film. The striking similarities in themes nevertheless suggest bringing them together. This article consequently attempts a reading of the film through Nancy's work in order to discuss the extent to which it resonates with certain aspects of his thinking, using this perspective to highlight important aspects of Import/Export which have not been analysed closely in previous discussions, in terms of both narrative and formal cinematic means. The article addresses several thematic areas which deserve attention since they are crucially relevant for both Import/Export and Nancy: intrusion and foreignness, community, touch and the body.
ISSN:1741-1548
2040-0594
DOI:10.1386/seci.9.1.53_1