X-Country. Being a Wedding Between Us and the Farabundo Martí Liberation Fron in President Monroe’s Old House

A long-time friend of Kramer's marries a high-ranking activist from the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front, an influential left-wing guerrilla group in El Salvador. Kramer decides to give the couple a wedding video. The summer party, which lasts several days, takes place at the feudal country estate of former US President James Monroe, who founded the Monroe Doctrine in 1823, according to which the USA should not interfere in Europe's colonial conflicts. Together with Paul McIsaac and in home movie mode, Kramer continues his struggle with the contradictions of the (American) left. Privilege and liberation struggle, the rich toast with champagne while the subaltern employees prepare the food. The video was also a dress rehearsal for the epic Route One/USA, for which filming began three months later: ‘Paul will do the sound. We're shooting the thing on video, because that's the only thing we can afford. We'll get a taste of what this Route One/USA thing will be like.’ (Volker Pantenburg)

Photo: Viennale