Swiss Documentary Explores Causes of Refugee Migration from Middle East and Beyond

Swiss filmmaker Edgar Hagen has produced a documentary titled The Roots of Madness, which explores the causes behind the large number of refugees fleeing conflict zones in the Middle East and other regions. The film follows Hagen and German journalist Ulrich Tilgner as they visit countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Niger, Greece, and Serbia to document the experiences of people affected by war and displacement.

The documentary aims to understand the long-term consequences of Western interventions in the Middle East and how these have influenced migration flows.

It combines archival footage and testimonies from individuals impacted by conflict to provide a detailed examination of the humanitarian situation and migration challenges faced by refugees. The Roots of Madness will have its world premiere in the national competition of the 57th edition of the Swiss documentary festival Visions du Réel in Nyon on April 19.

The film’s synopsis notes that it addresses the influx of millions of refugees into Europe in 2015 and the political and social responses that followed.

Hagen and Tilgner’s approach focuses on the perspectives of ordinary people rather than political leaders, aiming to capture the atmosphere and personal experiences behind the headlines. The film’s title reflects the filmmakers’ intent to trace the origins of conflict and displacement to better understand why people are forced to leave their homes.

Hagen stated that the documentary seeks to shed light on the humanitarian crisis at Europe’s borders and to juxtapose the voices of refugees with Western political decisions and values.

He emphasized the importance of understanding the root causes of migration to address issues of racism and political extremism in Western countries. The film also discusses the rise of groups such as the Taliban and the role of Western actions in contributing to radicalization.

The Roots of Madness aims to encourage dialogue about migration, conflict, and Western foreign policy. Hagen expressed hope that the film would prompt reflection on future directions regarding values and approaches to dealing with conflict and displacement. The documentary is produced by Hagen and Mathias Hefel through their production company.

The cinematography, editing, and other technical roles are handled by a team of professionals, though specific names were not provided in the source material. >"We have to really understand that.