New EU short highlights the power of the people to ward off the dark

With a hint of dystopia this new short from Hamlet director Jaco Van Dormael, called The Shape, shows a black cloud settling over a pleasant French village. 

The rain-like deluge begins pouring from the sky forcing the villagers to take shelter. The downpour destroys musical instruments, radios, computers and halts the freedom of life as they know it. 

It is important to me because Europe is important to me.

But then, a heroic poetry reader steps outside into the black rainstorm and passionately recites French poet Paul Eluard’s well-known poem, Liberté, which immediately stops the downpour, makes the cloud vanishes and restores the status quo.

The EUandME films underpin the European Union’s fundamental beliefs and opportunities for its citizens within the EU, such as the right to live without discrimination, freedom to travel, live, study and work across borders, promoting help with start-up businesses and freedom of speech.  

"The script was good, so it was easy to direct," said Van Dormael. "It is important to me because Europe is important to me. When you put a cardboard box in a field full of crows, the old crows fly away with fear, and the young crows are curious and go close to look at the box. Therefor it is important that the young people vote for Europe, not because of fear, but because of passion."