Filming for Identitti” starts at the HHU – A scandal in the cinema!

Filming for Identitti” starts at the HHU – A scandal in the cinema!

Filming for the feature film “Identitti” begins on April 12th at the Heinrich Heine University (HHU) in Düsseldorf. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Mithu Sanyal, a graduate of HHU, and marks a milestone: for the first time, the university is portrayed as an authentic setting in a cinema film. In the story, a scandal is uncovered that rocks the world of science and society.

The plot revolves around Professor Saraswati, who falsely pretends to be a person of color while her true identity as a white woman is revealed. Blogger Nivedita, who plans to write her master's thesis at Saraswati, stalks her professor to find out the reasons behind this scam. Randa Chahoud directs and brings together a team of talented actors such as Stephanie Eidt, Sabrina Setlur and Niels Bornmann. In addition, many HHU students are used as extras, which highlights the connection between the film and the university's academic community.

Filming and logistics

The film team will be active on campus for a total of six days of filming. Filming is planned for April 12th, 15th and 16th and May 2nd, 5th and 6th. There may be restrictions for students and staff on these days. Particularly noteworthy is April 15th, when a staged demonstration in front of building 26.21 is on the program from 9 a.m. This could severely affect the paths between buildings 25 and 26.

Filming will take place on April 12th between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. in building 22.01. On April 16th, the team will start at 7 a.m. in front of lecture halls 5D and 5F (building 25.21) and will continue to work in the Roy Lichtenstein Lecture Hall Center from 11 a.m. In order to support the filming team, the P 9 parking lot will be partially closed from around April 10th to May 2nd, which will lead to further logistical challenges for university members.

Cultural significance and events

“Identitti” is not just a film, but also a cultural event that deals with current topics such as identity and deception. Mithu Sanyal, the author of the novel, brings a critical view of social and scientific issues with her work. Filming at HHU also provides a platform to reflect on the challenges and debates that digital media and questions of identity raise.

In today's world, when knowledge and information are just a click away, questions about identity and its representation in digital media are particularly relevant. Professor Key Pousttchi from the University of Potsdam, who studies the effects of digital media, emphasizes the importance of responsible use of data and digital transformation. These themes reflect the complexity that is also frighteningly addressed in “Identitti”.