A film by U-M Artist-in-Residence Silvana Santamaria.
In German with English subtitles (58 min., 2008). A discussion with the filmmaker will follow the screening.
On Sufferance tells the story of a Romani family who has been living in Germany for 15 years. Their residence permit status is tenuous. Officially, they are simply tolerated. Hajrije, a mother of three, is 42 years old and raising Arduan (16 years old), Ramize (14 years old), Bobby (12 years old), her grandniece Melissa (7 years old), and Mee (Arduan’s girlfriend) on her own. Living in the district of Fasanenhof in Stutgart, Germany, they might feel a certain sense of security from racist attacks, at least compared to their original home; nevertheless, it is not easy for the Husenis to manage their everyday lives in Germany. Due to their residence permit status, they can be deported to Kosovo at any time. Efforts to get a permit to stay seem hopeless after 15 years of trying. The younger family members worry about how the life of the family will go on and what can be done to get another chance to stay in Germany.
This event and Ms. Santamaria’s residence is supported by Almanya: Transnational German Studies, the Department of Afroamerican and African Studies, the Center for World Performance Studies, the Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies, and the Center for European Studies.
