Intercultural competence and false projections: A Perspective on the critical tradition of intercultural documentary film

Multicultural encounters are opportunities to build dialogue, mutual learning and creativity, but can, also be sources for conflicts if intercultural sensitivity and competence are not present. Intercultural competence has therefore become an important research area. The topic has received a considerable amount of attention in recent decades. However, more reflective or critical approaches have to a large extent been missing from these discussions. In this article we will use insights from theories on documentary film representations in order to raise some general questions concerning intercultural competence. In particular we will draw on the body of work of filmmaker and theorist Trinh T. Minh-ha, whose contributions represent the experimental film movement that appeared during the mid 80’s and was influenced by post-colonial theory.