Imagine all the people, living life in peace…
These lyrics from John Lennon came to mind while watching City of Poets (Sara Rajaei, 2024). Lennon dreamed of a world without war, without greed. Unfortunately, this documentary takes us into the opposite world. There, the poetry that was once the foundation of the city is slowly buried by war and violence.
City of Poets (2024) immortalizes a city that was once full of beauty, art, and peace. However, it has gradually turned into an unfamiliar and harsh place due to war. The city was built with the names of poets as a tribute to art and humanity, symbolizing the cultural beauty that touches the daily lives of its residents. When war struck, the city’s identity began to fade. The names of poets were replaced by those of fallen war heroes, reflecting how a world divided by conflict often distracts from the arts and human values it once upheld. The change in street names is not only a physical symbol of a changing city, but also a metaphor for the loss of values that the people have held dear. When war dominates, poetry (a symbol of beauty, contemplation and peace) is replaced by militaristic narratives and brutality. And when the names of poets are forgotten, we also witness the loss of society’s collective memory of peaceful times.
Having a nonsequential flow, the documentary resembles a series of intertwined memories, forming layers of memories. Using archival footage and voice-over narration, City of Poets (2024) gives viewers the opportunity to think about how personal, shared and cultural histories are interconnected in shaping who we are today. Through the lens of City of Poets (2024), Director Sara Rajaei not only tells the story of a city, but also invites us to question: what happens when our art, culture, and memory are eroded by war? Can we still live in peace, or will we continue to live in a cycle of violence and historical amnesia?
With faint hope, poetry and memory can still revive what has been broken. As John Lennon once said, perhaps we are all trapped in a dream of a peaceful world. Although reality has yet to deliver that world, this documentary reminds us to never forget that dream, and to keep it in our hearts. (Tirza Kanya) (Ed. Vanis/Trans. Naufal Shabri)
Film Details
City of Poets
Sara Rajaei | 21 Min | 2024 | Netherlands
Official Selection for Docs Docs: Short!
Festival Film Dokumenter 2024
Screening Schedule
Nov. 5 | 15:00 WIB | Ruang Seminar, TBY
Nov. 7 | 15:30 WIB | Militaire Societeit, TBY
