Jørgen Leth was forced to take a quick decision. It he knew.
He should not be in his beloved Haiti, when corona-the epidemic began to ravage the country.
There are hospitals for the poor and citizens ‘ behavior too uncertain in such a crisis situation. It knows the popular film maker and author of all, after having used the country as winter hibernation in the last 29 years.
Therefore arranged Jørgen Leth that he, along with his son Asger, who was visiting, could get to safety in the neighboring country of The Dominican Republic, before the border was closed.
But even though they came out of Haiti in a timely manner, is it not the case that everything now is peaceful and idyllic.
For the corona-the restrictions are being enforced so brutally in The Dominican Republic, that it scares the popular film maker and author.
It tells Jørgen Leth over a telephone.
“People should generally be on the inside, but after midnight. 17 each day there is decidedly a curfew here. It is being handled very militant. It is like a horror film in many ways. With military vehicles patrolling around the streets. And with the sirens and such a speaker-the voice that tells people they must be inside. And if they do not get out of the way at. 17 so hear you were shot,” he says, and continues:
“I heard they had killed one the other day. Even five minutes before noon. 17. It was there in the beginning of the decommissioning, that perhaps they should manifest that they meant it. So I do not think it is just warning shots, when we hear the shots.”
“It’s spooky enough that they are running around in the streets on the way, but when they saw the even stresses it by shooting, so… It was sateme creepy, I think. So one becomes afraid. So keep one in each case for itself,” says 82-year-old Jørgen Leth.
But why is Jørgen Leth and his son actually still in The Dominican Republic?
The issues arise of course, when the Danish authorities for nearly a month has worked to get Danish citizens home.
the Explanation is simple. Despite the authorities ‘ intentions is not something to do in Jørgen & Asger Leths case.
“of Course we would like homes, but we can’t,” says Jørgen Leth explains:
“We were in contact with the ambassador in Mexico City in the past, but we can’t get from here. There are quite finished with the evacuation here. The airspace is closed. There is no flying into. There is no flying out. But it is not any, that can change right now,” says Leth, and stresses that he in no way dissatisfied with the support received from the Danish authorities.
Therefore, staying he is now together with his son, Asger in a house, which they have borrowed from some friends. Here they can stay for as long as they want, which gives the two danes, a certain peace, since all the hotels are shut down because of the corona virus.
the House is located just outside the town of Las Terrenas, but although it is tempting to go into town to get a little diversion, so that means both the risk and the military’s heavy-handed methods, to Jørgen & Asger Leth has ensconced itself in the house.
“I am glad that we are here and not in Haiti, but you can not be sure on something here. The infection is here, but it is not galloping yet. But I fear that it will be. There are still too many people on the street. Even though they may not be there any more. The bother we are not exposing ourselves to.”
“for example, We will no longer run into town and go in the supermarket. It could be maybe a week ago, if you had masks on, and took his measures in relation to contact and the kind of. But we think it is too dangerous now. So now we get things delivered here in the house. Asger also says that I must not, because I am old, and therefore in the danger zone.”
Just age means that Jørgen Leth belongs in the category of ‘vulnerable persons’, but it doesn’t take up much in his thoughts.
“I’m not particularly worried about it. I am not sleeping so well at night, but it is, of course, because it is not nice to be locked up somewhere. One might say that it is, in a certain way. It is not a prison, but it is still a place where you can not get out. That in itself is oppressive and affects the one.”
“But beyond that I have no health concerns. I fit just. I avoid contact with the outside world. It is we have to. So I think we feel fairly comfortable in the circumstances. As long as we stay away from the city,” says Jørgen Leth.
to pass time in isolation in the best possible way and to ‘sharpen the minds’ have Jørgen Leth chosen to dedicate themselves to a daily live feature in Facebook, where he reads from various Danish texts.
It gives him a fixed point of reference and a way to get through the day. And at the same time, it creates some interaction with the fans, he has been after the particular many years as the legendary Tour de France commentator on the TV 2.
“It is good for me that I know that I need it every day, and people have welcomed it. You must try to resist and create some consistency in his day. Otherwise, the mood pressure. But I’m a little strange in the head of it here, it makes you believe,” says Jørgen Leth with a laugh.
in addition to reading aloud on Facebook explains Jørgen Leth that he spends most of his waking time to keep up with the news, so he is well informed on how the corona virus develops in both Denmark and the rest of the world.
He says that he is ‘impressed by the calm’, as Mette Frederiksen, the Danish authorities have shown during the crisis.
But his temper hit the boiling point, when he sees examples of people who have not understood gravity yet.
“This virus is changing many lives. I’m afraid of the speed it spreads with right now. It is clear. Who is not afraid of it? I can’t understand, if people do not take it here seriously. So when I read, there is someone who takes lightly on it, then I’m damn angry. Really angry,” says Jørgen Leth and adds:
“We must take care of each other. All together. It is what you hear again and again. And it is there for a reason.”
