“Camouflage”, interview with director Mykyta Gibalenko and actor Arthur Aliiev

Mykyta Gibalenko, the director of the film Camouflage, and actor Arthur Aliiev discuss their latest project, which was selected for the Giornata degli Autori at the Venice Film Festival. The film is a semi-autobiographical story that explores themes of migration, identity, and collective memory through the lens of personal and historical upheaval. This conversation sheds light on how Gibalenko’s own experiences and research shaped a film that aims to resonate universally.

The personal and collective roots of Camouflage

Gibalenko explains that the story draws heavily from her own life, particularly her migration from Ukraine to Germany in 2013 and her involvement in the German theatre scene. She emphasizes that her personal experiences serve as a starting point, but the film expands into a broader narrative about collective migration and the impact of war on identity. The film’s core revolves around Vitali, a character navigating his roots amid the chaos of conflict, illustrating how individual stories are intertwined with collective histories.

Balancing multiple stories in Camouflage

Creating an ensemble cast was a deliberate choice to reflect diverse experiences of migration and war. Gibalenko highlights the challenge of maintaining a balance between the main character’s personal journey and the parallel stories of other characters. He notes that careful editing and a focus on each character’s unique experience allowed the film to portray a layered, collective picture, pointing out that the film’s title symbolizes the theme of identity and the ways people adapt or hide their true selves in unfamiliar environments.

The significance of Camouflage’s portrayal of identity and language

Arthur Aliiev discusses how his character Vitaly’s stutter was a conscious choice to emphasize themes of self-acceptance and language as a marker of identity. He explains that Vitaly’s difficulty in speaking reflects broader issues of social pressure and the struggle to find one’s voice. The film explores how language and speech relate to personal roots, with Vitali’s lessening stutter in German symbolizing a desire to reinvent oneself in a new context. Both Gibalenko and Aliiev agree that the film ultimately advocates for embracing one’s true self amid external pressures.

Plot