Purple Rain
“Mihai” – a pseudonym he chose himself – has a lifelong history of drugs and psychosis.
2019 / Wederik De Backer / UnFictional, USA
“Mihai” – a pseudonym he chose himself – has a lifelong history of drugs and psychosis.
He’s in a wing at Begijnenstraat prison, near the city center in Antwerp, for prisoners who have committed a crime but suffer from a mental disorder that makes them unable to control their actions. He tells the story of the fateful day that landed him in prison for a radio program made there, featuring interviews and music, poetry and true stories.
Warning : This story includes a description of domestic violence, as well as explicit language.
Purple Rain was produced for KCRW’s UnFictional by Wederik De Backer, in association with Radio Begijnenstraat, with special thanks to Tinne Claes & Bob Carlson. Music by tram6o4/akkafscene & Studio Ree. Additional voices by Emil Safta, Mihaela Predan and Joris Van Damme. Episode art by Tina Carlson, courtesy of KCRW’s UnFictional.
produced by
Wederik (he/him) is a Belgian audio maker, specializing in radio drama, satire, and radio documentary. His productions found their way to media in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and the U.S.
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