Private Project

Everyday Dignity

Documentary by Ida Does about anti-racism pioneer Philomena Essed, who wrote a groundbreaking book on everyday racism forty years ago. Despite the controversy the book stirred at the time, it has since been regarded as the definitive anti-racism reference in the years that followed. The documentary highlights the ongoing commitment of Philomena Essed. Is the book still relevant after all these years?

About this documentary
Forty years ago, Philomena Essed wrote the controversial book 'Everyday Racism'' Her work remains just as pertinent in today's discourse on racism. Essed herself and allies such as Gloria Wekker, Marion Bloem, Princess Irene, Anja Meulenbelt, and Hellen Felter reflect on the debate of the past and draw connections to the present. For instance, recently, Sohra, Lakiescha, and Veronika, students in their early twenties, successfully took the lead as activists to integrate discussions on racism and discrimination into education. What qualities does it take to address this issue as a female scholar and pioneer, and what motivates one to persist with it for decades? What wisdom does Essed impart to the younger generation, and what wisdom do the youth return to her?

  • ida does
    Director
    Poetry is an island; it is Not PAst, Three Women, about slavery and freedom;
  • ida does
    Writer
  • ida does
    Producer
  • Philomena Essed
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    October 7, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    160 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Netherlands
  • Country of Filming:
    Netherlands, United States
  • Language:
    Dutch
  • Shooting Format:
    4K
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Black Achievement Month, EYE FILM THEATER
    Amsterdam
    Netherlands
    October 7, 2023
    Dutch Premiere
Director Biography - ida does

Ida Does is an award winning documentary filmmaker and producer whose work focuses on (colonial) history, art and culture, social justice, and (Caribbean) pioneers. Her work has received international acclaim with multiple film festival awards. In 2017, she was named the Best Female Director of Color at the Caribbean Tales International Film Festival in Toronto, and in 2023, she was nominated for the 'Woman in the Media' Award. Her award-winning film "Poetry is an island," about and featuring Nobel laureate Derek Walcott, has been screened worldwide at over 40 festivals and theaters. Among her previous works are "Amsterdam, trances of sugar," "Traces of emerald," "Peace, memories of Anton de Kom," and the TV series "Dreams of Curacao." In 2022, she directed the documentary "It is not Past-08121982-" about the December murders in her native Suriname. The film received awards at the CaribbeanTales International Film Festival and the Playa Film Festival Aruba, and was selected by various other film festivals.

In 2023, Does completed a cinematic portrait of Professor Philomena Essed, a pioneer in the study of everyday racism in the Netherlands, titled "Everyday Dignity." In the same year, Does received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her entire body of work from the Dutch State Secretary of Culture.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I feel a profound connection with Nina Simone's vision that an artist's duty is to reflect the times and speak out against injustice. Echoing her sentiment, "An artist's duty, as far as I'm concerned, is to reflect the times. I think that is true of painters, sculptors, poets, musicians. As far as I'm concerned, it's their choice, but I CHOOSE to reflect the times and situations in which I find myself."

This perspective from Nina Simone resonates deeply with my work, particularly in the context of my work as a filmmaker. It reinforces the idea that art serves as a potent tool for social commentary and change. It inspires me to utilize my creative expression, to illuminate societal issues and contribute to the broader conversations that shape our world. In alignment with this approach, I see it as an ongoing calling to capture the reality of our time through film and documentaries, acting as a voice for those who might otherwise go unheard.