Recensie (2)
I've been watching Eurovision for years, enjoying the spectacle. So, when Iceland's Hatari showed up with their BDSM aesthetic, they definitely caught my eye. Honestly, I had no idea what went into their concept of competing in Eurovision, and surprisingly, the music was almost secondary in this documentary. If I were to judge it solely on the band, I might not have been impressed. The whole industrial anti-capitalist Hatari image didn’t quite fit with these two guys who seemed more like Icelandic millennial hipsters than hardcore rebels. However, what I truly appreciate about this documentary is how it delves into the complex relationship between Palestinians and Israelis, using the world's biggest music show as a backdrop. For its bold idea and impactful message, this documentary deserves attention.
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The film is about a band that is characterized as anti-capitalist, and it doesn't seem absurd to the musicians to perform in the Eurovision competition, which has been considered for many years as a symbol of the most bizarre and extravagant pop music, as a heavily commercialized tasteless show. This really scared the capitalist magnates... I remember how some bands and individuals from the music industry were able to truly provoke and unsettle the establishment in the 60s to 80s. This is a harmless storm in a teacup. They're a group that looks like a bunch of introverted students from a theological faculty, who came to preach about morality, without costumes. If this is what rebellion looks like according to millennials, then we're screwed, ladies and gentlemen, and the elites can relax. Being a pop star was never their goal, and they're successfully mystifying that and it's taking them a long time. A documentary about young rebels shouldn't be boring, but unfortunately, A Song Called Hate manages to do that. Not to mention how ridiculous the band members are in their authentic anxiety about their "bold" protest and what they are actually afraid of. Facing censorship and career pressures or even physical attacks today means holding different opinions and rebelling in countries other than Israel. The editors of Charlie Hebdo could say something about it. This group knows too little about the complex situation in the Middle East and the issue of Palestine, where I really wouldn't want to act as an arbitrator. Overall impression: 35%.
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