“We are a little disappointed by the offer.” These are the words used by the legal representative of NCTE about the proposal put forward by the venture capital company. NCTE developed the most up-to-date sensor technology and is looking for investors. The VC company gives high interest loans to companies that the bank assesses as high risk. In Nicht ohne Risiko, Harun Farocki documents a two-hour negotiation session between the developer and the risk company. Initially, the two companies seem to disagree, but then NCTE reports of initial successes and expressions of interest from economically powerful companies. This appears to pique the interest of the risk company, and the talks run their course. Which strategy will be successful? What conditions are attached to the financial investment of around 750,000 Euros? Farocki’s film shows moments where decisions are made about the technologies of the future, and how the desire for risk drives the economy.
Harun Farocki, Nicht ohne Risiko, 2008, Video, 50 Min, courtesy Harun Farocki Filmproduktion, Sammlung Generali Foundation, Wien.
Harun Farocki (*1944) is a filmmaker, author, and lecturer. He lives and works in Berlin. Since 1966 Farocki has produced more than 100 films. He has participated in exhibitions at Tate Modern in London, and MoMA in New York. In 2007 he presented Deep Play at documenta 12 in Kassel.