How did the book Emergency Preparedness by P. Rübig inspire you, and what motivated you to translate its insights into a cinematic narrative on Europe’s water challenges?
When Paul Rübig published the book, I guess I was one of the first to read it, as I know Paul already all my time in Brussels which is now also some 20 years. I told him straightforward that this is one of the, if not even the most important topic for mankind ever. I would not want to refer to the quote that “water is the new gold” as it is too mercantilistic and business and – yes even – greed driven. For me water is everything. If you ask me what my favorite drink is, I will always say pure fresh natural spring water. Our body is up to about 70 % water (however one looks at it), fact is that we barely be able to survive more than 3 or 4 days without water. As a kid, I spent a lot of time on water – so I tend to say “I grew up” on a sailing boat in the Adriatic Sea. What can I say? No life without water. Or – as a filmmaker allow me to quote the late actor Bruce Lee: “Be water, my friend.”
So, when Paul asked me if I could make a documentary about the insights of the book I gladly accepted. Especially the positive message and the easy to understand practical examples of the experts who wrote in the book and also contributed with their knowledge to the film made it a pleasure to steer this project. With Luna de Mesmaeker, a very talented art student in Belgium, we have found a protagonist that travels for us, for the audience from expert to expert striving to understand what we, the people, actually can do in this ever changing world. There is no blaming and shaming or anything aggressive, but awareness, insights and offering solutions. FACING THE UNKNOWN has a strong message: The message that everyone even with the smallest step and smallest contribution can change the world to a better place – and with this already we all can gain an emergency preparedness that counts.
In what ways do you hope the film Facing the Unknown can influence EU policymakers and stakeholders in their efforts toward a water-resilient Europe?
Once you see the light, you cannot unsee it. Awareness is the key. I do hope that this film opens the eyes to the responsible. In the long run financial or political power is not important but what is important as a preparation and baseline are the results for the future to come – the unknown. Again: water is life. There is no way around or as Durk Krol said: When people are hungry, they start fighting; but when people are thirsty they start migrating. There are projects, plans and solutions that our society has to implement – apart from any kind of ideology. In fact: our society (or shall I say societies?) has the means to make Europe and as an example even the world water-resilient. It is not necessarily a matter of cheque-books and fundings, but of honest collaboration, it is a real time test for humanity. And don´t be fooled – if there is “good” water only for few, the others will come and get it for themselves as well. I don´t want to be too apocalyptic, but these things don´t only happen in blockbuster films.
What responsibility do you believe filmmakers, particularly those working on environmental themes, have to engage with institutions and shape public discourse beyond the cinema?
There is the quote that everything is politics. Well, yes – somehow. In a time where more and more ideology and strategic skirmish is poisoning the political environment – I guess – it is important that reporters are again reporting and not shaping opinions, the news is again news and not infotainment or indoctrination and politics is again made for the people and not for peer/pressure groups that only see their gain. Filmmakers, authors, intellectuals shall not make themselves spokespersons of one or the other side, hustling for some political small change, but be voices of wisdom and reason. In the end, it is not some that would lose, it will be all that lose. And is it worth that? So, do as your grandmother told you: be honest.
Dieter-Michael Grohmann was born and raised in Austria, finalized his education as a lawyer, NGO-manager, advertising expert, and filmmaker at various universities in Austria, Switzerland, and the USA. He has been working for the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber as a lobbyist for more than 25 years. All along, and still today, he is teaching at various universities and international business schools in the fields of Creativity, Cross-Cultural Management, and Leadership. Apart from that, he pursued his artistic career as a multimedia and film artist, with his projects receiving more than 220 awards at film festivals all over the world. He has also been honored with the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art. Living and working from and in Brussels, he runs the company “beyond by DMG” in the field of filmmaking and consultancy.
