The project shifts the focus away from the typical political analysis of the G8 and centers on the of seven activists from across Europe: Lena, Niels, Chabi, Mina, Dan, Michael, and Muli.
: Rather than just showing archival footage, Bachschmidt captures the survivors 10 years later. It portrays their struggle with "activist trauma," including anxiety, insomnia, and the long process of reclaiming their political identities after being criminalized. "La Costruzione del Nemico" (The Construction of the Enemy) The project shifts the focus away from the
The book and project's title refer to the of the "Black Block" as a singular, violent antagonist to justify extreme police measures. "La Costruzione del Nemico" (The Construction of the
: The documentary premiered at the 68th Venice International Film Festival in 2011 as part of the Controcampo Italiano competition. " including anxiety
: The project tracks the legal timeline from the initial Seattle protests (1999) to the controversial appeals and trials following the Genoa events, examining how democracy manages its "limits" through control. Impact and Recognition
: Bachschmidt explores how authorities used the "specter" of the Black Block to implement a new strategy of public order that curtailed democratic freedoms and legitimate dissent.
: It details the subsequent "Mexican butchery" (as described by a police official) and torture that occurred at the Bolzaneto temporary detention facility.