Loss of an island paradise

How did you come across the story and your protagonists?

Arjun Talwar: We were visiting Flensburg and at the time "the island" was the number one topic of conversation everywhere. It was the summer when the inhabitants of Ochseninsel had to leave their paradise and return to the mainland in Flensburg. Everyone wondered: what had happened on the island?

Bigna Tomschin: It didn't take long for us to meet the islanders at the counter of a bar. They told us fantastic stories about this magical place, which is just a stone's throw from the mainland. This place immediately had an enormous pull for us too. But we also sensed that all the inhabitants had returned with broken hearts.

How long did you accompany the sailors with your camera and how many days did you spend on the cutters yourselves?

Arjun Talwar: There were many days and especially nights below deck. We filmed over a period of three years. The two ferrymen, Ollie and Lars, offered us accommodation on the ship, which we gladly accepted. The ferry was no longer in operation at the time, so we often slept there.

Bigna Tomschin: The film could really only be made in this way. All the protagonists in our film lived on ships, so it was very important for us to immerse ourselves in this universe.

Were you able to relate to the North German humour at first?

Bigna Tomschin: North German humour is indeed very special and we landlubbers had to get used to it first. The charm and humour of our protagonists had a strong influence on the film, because although it is a story about loss and longing, there is a good dose of mischief in all the conversations.

Arjun Talwar: For me, a good film always combines the tragic with the comic.

The film is very dark for long stretches, was that the plan from the beginning?

Arjun Talwar: At the beginning of the film, we wanted to show how deep the loss of the island paradise runs. The reality on the mainland simply can't keep up with the dream of an island. The film is about a new beginning, like after a break-up or a misfortune. It was important to us to show this path: The initial pain slowly changes until the field of vision opens up again for new paths and dreams.

Bigna Tomschin: What's more, it's actually very dark below deck! Without daylight, you quickly fall into a strange, timeless state.

What was the biggest challenge for you in the project?

Bigna Tomschin: Documentary is based on a real story and that is often difficult. The island has meant something to many people and we met wonderful people through our research. At first we tried to do justice to all these stories, but then we realised that we had to focus.

Arjun Talwar: The film is therefore less about the real history of Ox Island and more about the dream of an island, about the longing for a lost place. We have focussed on a small aspect of reality.

Bigna Tomschin: I think that is precisely why so many people can identify with the story. There is something very universal about this longing for a "different" life.

Why should you definitely not miss "The Donkey's Name was Geronimo" at the cinema?

Arjun Talwar: I think our film takes the viewer into a different world - on the one hand there is this North German rough world, full of black humour and sailor's yarn, and on the other hand an almost surreal one, magical power that emanates from this island.

Bigna Tomschin: It's definitely fun to watch the film and get involved in this journey. You automatically ask yourself: could I live on an island with just a small group of people? live?

Is there also a paradisiacal place for you where everything seems to be perfect?

Arjun Talwar: Paradise and above all the "paradise island" have preoccupied people since time immemorial, from the Bible to Robinson or the Odyssey. It is like an ancient dream that has been passed on in our culture and imagination. But the nasty thing about paradise is that it always slips through your fingers somehow! Many people are familiar with this, whether it's mourning a carefree childhood or longing for their homeland. Somehow, paradise always remains an intangible fiction.

Bigna Tomschin: I am often preoccupied by this primal feeling that something is wrong with the world and that there must be something really beautiful somewhere. The search for it is what makes being human so interesting.

What film projects are you working on next?

Arjun Talwar: We are currently working together on a film about the elections in India.

Bigna Tomschin: Democracy is probably also a kind of utopia that we are all desperately chasing after.