Self-Determination, Transnationality, Multiculturalism and Universalism in the TV-Movie "Sanctuaire" (Olivier Masset-Depasse, 2015)

Abstract

In 2015, the TV-Movie Sanctuaire, directed by Olivier Masset-Depasse and co-produced between Spain and France is released. Screened for the first time at the Malaga Spanish film festival, it was subsequently shown on the Movistar TV channel. The film focuses on the relationship between the Basque Terrorist Group ETA and a French Government political delegate during the Felipe González’s presidency in Spain. Considering the new challenges that Globalization has imposed to the traditional geographic distribution based on the State-Nation composition, this article aims to study if either the Basque Politics and Society have been adapted to this new “transnational space” or otherwise the State- Nation values are loath to lose capacities, using Saskia Sassen’s words. In addition, this article will take into account the dominance of the French point of view over the Basque conflict in the film, since this “French perspective” is decisive to consider if Basques are seen as a minority belonging to France or an external minority in conflict against Spain. In order to explore the dispute between communitarian and liberal positions about Nation and self-determination in Sanctuaire, the author combines the previously mentioned point of view, as well as Slavoj Žižek’s considerations on Multiculturalism, with film analysis.