ich suche eine Wohnung in Hamburg.
Ich suche eine Wohnung in Hamburg emerged from my ongoing struggle to find stable housing in the city. Over the past year, I have moved between temporary and insecure living situations.
Many rejections were shaped by assumptions about my residency status, my nationality, and how I am perceived.
Shot on Super 8, the film follows my search for housing through Hamburg. A figure representing me appears with a sign in front of statues, public buildings, the Ausländerbehörde, and in areas where I have lived temporarily. The act of searching becomes visible in public space.The film also moves along the Elbe, which reminds me of Karachi, the coastal city I come from.
On the beach, a warning sign reads “Dangerous Area” in several languages, including Urdu: خطرناک علاقہ. In Pakistan, this phrase is often used to describe a dangerous neighborhood.
Forme, this sign carries a certain irony. It amuses me, but it also reminds me that there are moments when I do not feel fully welcome.
English title: I Am Looking for an Apartment in Hamburg
Super 8mm
No dialogue
Starring: Irfan Noor k. and Razi Uddin
Written and Directed by: Razi Uddin
