Azart, Come Make Art | Masha Novikova en Annike Kaljouw

Azart, Come Make Art

Captain August wanted to sail the VOC route, he said, but in a different way. "Not to steal and kill, but to play and share." Now stranded - literally - on a South American beach, where the wonderful story continues, led by a local theater group.

Captain August: “To be able to run a Fool's Barge for thirty years, you can't be a fool at all. To achieve your goal you have to Lave – that is to sail as high as possible against the wind and in a permanent zig-zag movement. That is something like Finding Your Own Way Amidst the Difficulties.”

About the filmmakers

Masha Novikova : I lived and sailed on the ship in the 80s. I took everything seriously, all problems and obstacles seemed dramatic to me. August taught me to see things differently. Lighter. Everything will work itself out, he often said. Yet later I made many documentaries that tell about war, dictatorships, misery and struggle. That was successful for my career, but pointless for society: the wars and misery have not disappeared. This film is my first comedy documentary, in which I would like to sing about the lightness of existence.

Annike Kaljouw : Since 2017 I have been following the ship with my film camera. In Cape Verde I saw how quickly August made contact with the locals and how the ship exerted a magnetic force on so many different people. In a world where much is determined by money and economic success, August has not chosen a life of luxury. He wanted to sail the VOC route, he said. But in a different way: “This time we don't come to steal and kill, but to play and share.” It touched me to see how much joy and wonder the ship brought to everyone who came to visit it. And it still is: because the ship now lies gracefully on an Ecuadorian beach and serves as a theater. When Masha said she wanted to make a film about 30 years of Azart, I made my footage available and offered to make the film together.

AZART, COME MAKE ART

Bringing happiness to the people has been the main goal for the captain. As August himself says: 'I wanted to build a ship of fools to sail around the world and sing the praises of folly.'

Until 2020, the ship has visited hundreds of cities and enlivened them with theater performances. After 33 years of free sailing, the ship is making its very last voyage. On wheels, 150 meters along the beach of an Ecuadorian fishing village. 'The ship of fools' was on its way to Australia, but when the pandemic broke out and skipper August was diagnosed with serious illness, the ship set course for a final berth.

In the film we follow August in his mission to give the ship a final destination. He visits old friends and family in the Netherlands and looks back on his travels. Because August always had filmmakers on board, we were able to create a colorful overview of the wonderful history of the theater ship. A ship that is a source of inspiration for so many and symbolizes the realization of dreams. The motto was: 'Just do it. Come and make art'. For many it turned out to be a springboard to a professional career in the art world.