By filming a story of exile and homecoming in Western Sahara, Christopher Nolan’s production turned an unresolved homeland into scenery — and exposed the need for ethical standards governing film locations.
Europe’s creative and cultural sector is outstanding in its diversity, economic significance and in its capacity to innovate. It would be wrong to use it as a means to promote an orchestrated self-image.
When Europeans open a streaming app tonight, they do not simply choose entertainment. They enter an attention system that decides what is surfaced, what is sidelined, and what becomes ‘normal’ through rankings, recommendations, and autoplay. As the EU prepares for the 2026 review of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD), this is no longer just a cultural debate. It is a question of market design, democratic resilience, and strategic capacity.
Czech journalist Petra Procházková recounts Putin’s 1999 rise from obscurity, sparked by his mafioso “crapper” speech after Moscow bombings. Fueled by deep Russian humiliation from Western arrogance and guided by cunning strategists, this “rattlesnake” seized absolute power, transforming resentment into terrifying autocracy.
