Rise Up (2022) on Netflix

Together with five extraordinary political activists, "Rise up" seeks answers to the devastating ecology- gical, economic and authoritarian developments of our time.

The grins of the Trumps and Bolsonaros flicker up again and again, while images of burning forests and overcrow- ded refugee camps draw a dystopian future. Can the huge global crises still be overcome? It is said that all social progress had to be fought for by courageous people - but how did they manage to do so? Five protagonists, who were involved in overwhelming social upheavals, struggle for answers, together with the authors of the film and the audience. A sixth, rather overarching VOICE - a self-reflexive voiceover - captures and further develops their common thoughts, doubts and visions. We want to track it down, this point where people start to fight. When does someone decide to give up normality and security, more or less leave everything behind and try the impossible? In this film we explore the transforma- tion of small people into heroes, from a minor rebellion to a great revolt, from a single idea to historical progress. One of our protagonists is Shirley Gunn from South Africa. Her eyes are gentle, despite a lifetime of hard political struggle. In a dreamy green backyard on the outskirts of Cape Town, she remembers the long fight against the apartheid regime, the harrowing setbacks, the small and big victories. Until today she lives for her ideals, feels connected to the activists of BlackLivesMatter in the USA or the feminist uprising in Latin America. The latter was co-organized by another protagonist of the film, the Chilean Jerónima Monroe. Jerónima lowers her head a bit when she remembers her brutal family, her tough youth, which she shares with many in the suburbs of Santiago. To her, the organization of the protests, in which hundreds of thousands participated, was like an awakening from a long twilight sleep: "Suddenly the whole country was on fire" - Jerónima lifts up her head - "and it was beautiful." They have achieved unimaginable things - whether in the fight against authoritarian regimes, against racism or climate change. Whether with protests, science or from the underground, in Europe, Asia, Africa, North or South America - their stories are interconnected across all borders, across space and even time. The power with which they left their old lives behind for their ideals is also an answer to the great questions of our time. The filmmakers are part of a collective which has been following various protests and movements with the camera for over 10 years. The trust they have earned this way gives them unique access to political actors. Their online formats and reports regularly reach tens of thousands of people in the social media. Their first documentary "Ham- burger Gitter" (2018) was viewed by over 35,000 people in cinema and more than 100,000 online. One advantage of their many years in online journalism is they know their audience well, they know about the deep desire for very specific stories, full of inspiration and strength. After all, social commitment is always characterized by political hopes, doubts, defeats and the ever more pressing question of how a better world is possible. The essay part of the film reflects on those experiences, not only taking up the questions of the authors, but also those of the target audience. In combination with the five stories of successful political struggles, the film will give strength and help to stand against the ever looming pessimism. "Rise up" is a burning plea for the possibility of a better world.