Imagining Emanuel

A man stands against a blank background like a subject of examination. Who is he and where is he from? The Norwegian authorities search through written documents to find the answer, while director Thomas A. Østbye resorts to the means of a documentary film.

 

Emanuel was a stowaway on a ship from Africa to Norway. He has told his name and his story to the authorities several times. The problem is that they don’t believe him, which has led to Emanuel being dragged in and out of different bureaus as well as prison. He is stuck in limbo: no nationality, no residence or work permit, no home country.

 

Piece by piece, the documentary builds a picture of Emanuel. His story is contrasted with the investigation of the authorities. The fascinating collage raises questions about the structure of identity. Who are we, and more importantly, who or what defines who we are?