James Pastouna

Remember the Occupy Wall Street Movement and their fight against economic inequality?

The Occupy movement spread like wildfire throughout the world. Here in Germany they pitched up their tents in front of the European Central Bank. The film has German commentary and you may hopefully get an idea about what it was like to be part of this movement. I was commissioned to make this story and I think I’m the only person to have made a full half hour report about the Occupy Movement. There are a lot of features, interviews and news item pieces about the Occupy Movement.

I have filmed in different climates. The hottest place, I think, was Nicaragua in a place called Corinto. The coldest must have been during this shoot. The temperature was – 14°C. It was absolutely freezing and I was booked with Constantin and the soundman in a small hotel round the corner. Basically the ‘Occupiers’ were well meaning and set up a camp with food and shelter for their followers. I noticed a lot of people were taking advantage of them and using their facilities. Unfortunately with drug and alcohol problems. The Occupiers did not want to tell them to clear off. Was actually concerned to see young idealistic girls spending their time in minus temperatures surrounded by life’s unfortunates. There were a lot of liberal people from the arts who were supporting the Occupiers. The director of the Frankfurt Opera House let them use their facilities.

I was in an unfortunate predicament. A good friend of mine, Kai, worked for the Deutsche Bank a minute away from the ECB symbol. We planned to meet and have lunch at his bank as I happened to be in Frankfurt.  How should I dress? A little ‘alternativ’ as they say in German like the ‘Occupiers’? Their slogan by the way was ‘We are the 99%.’ Or should I dress for the remaining 1%?  Whilst filming I sneaked off for an hour, changing at the Opera House hoping not to be seen.

The Occupy movement petered out. Capitalism was not overthrown and 50 million Americans still have inadequate healthcare. And there are people with unbelievable wealth especially in the tech industry. And at the end of the day the German social system functions considerably better than in the US.

But the movement did show how a group of grungy people with a common ideal could frighten the hell out of the 1%. It was the start of a new generation of social and political movements. BLM, Me Too, Fridays for Future to name a few.

Thank you Occupiers for showing us the way.