Spectacular "Samurai" suicide in Berlin avoided - Interview (1)

(Berlin, February 2007) On the occasion of the Golden Camera Award on February 1, 2007, Christophe Didillon (35) sat down under the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, holding a samurai sword directed at his waist. The young artist wanted to protest against the silent repression of the meaning of human dignity out of the modern society life. The special force of Berlin Police overpowered him and saved his life in the event. Didillon had a cut over his left eye and was brought to hospital. During his stay in the Charité he was visited by Ute Groeschl, assistant member of Golden Camera staff. In the

name of all staff members she asked for his state of health and wished “Get well soon!” In the course of the conversation she interviewed Didillon and asked for the reasons of his action:

Question (Q): Mr Didillon, on February 1, 2007 you sat down under the Brandenburg Gate, holding a samurai sword in your hands. Did you really want to commit suicide?

Answer (A): I was indeed strong-willed and ready to die, but when I sat there, the head of the sword touching my waist, I gathered all my thoughts about doing or not doing it, and suddenly my gut instinct decided NOT to do it. That wouldn’t be the way for me to leave the world. I have to life and it’s my duty to leverage all my talents God presented me…

Q: Some press and media reported you wanted to commit suicide because of your distraught love to Kirsten Dunst.

A: Stop, please!! I admire Kirsten Dunst very much, that’s a matter of fact. I believe she is a very sensitive and soulful young lady, far ahead of other ladies in her age, and therefore she deeply impresses me. However, my action under the Brandenburg Gate has absolutely nothing to do with her.

Q: Anyway, you made a WALK OF FLAME for her in the last year, walked on foot from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

A: Yes, that’s right. And frankly spoken I was quite disappointed about receiving no answer from her. So I never received information about her delighting my self-painted present, which I carried on my back for more than 300 miles. However, I don’t even know if she was informed by her management at all. Maybe she doesn’t even know anything about my Walk of Flame and my present for her until yet. Even though I am quite unhappy and sad about this, I truly don’t want to cause her pain. To distress her emotions is finally not what I proposed when I made my Walk of Flame for her. Kirsten Dunst and my action under the Brandenburg Gate had absolutely no relation, it had completely another background. Referring to the real background, I just gave a very detailed declaration to the press.

Q: “Welchen Wert hat die Wuerde eines Menschen?” – How much is the human dignity? You asked and tried to appeal to the people for more respectfulness of others?

(to be continued in part 2)