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Reste debout
Aïssata Ouarma
International Competition Short Film 2021
Documentary Film
Burkina Faso,
South Africa
2021
38 minutes
French
Subtitles: 
English

The opening scene shows the anger: It’s about rape. The observing documentary by Aïssata Ouarma is more composed, though, focused on dealing with the trauma and the attempts to come to terms with it through art. The heavily pregnant Mariam attends a theatre education workshop. The camera follows her and her empathetic trainer in moments of mental and physical exertion designed to free her soul – and that of her unborn child – for good.

Borjana Gaković

Credits DOK Leipzig Logo

Director
Aïssata Ouarma
Script
Aïssata Ouarma
Cinematographer
Abdul Aziz Diallo, Barou Ouédraogo
Editor
Djibril Sanogo, Ernest Kabore
Producer
Don Edkins, Tiny Mungwe
Co-Producer
Sékou Traoré
Sound
Issiaka Diallo
Score
Féïçale Diara
World Sales
Bérénice Hahn
Filmstill Where Zebus Speak French

Where Zebus Speak French

Sitabaomba
Nantenaina Lova
International Competition Documentary Film 2023
Documentary Film
Burkina Faso,
France,
Germany,
Madagascar
2023
103 minutes
French,
Malagasy
Subtitles: 
English

Does farmer Ly have dealings with the Chinese, who have recently been tampering with the infrastructure of the village of Sitabaomba, not far from the Malagasy capital of Antananarivo, director Nantenaina Lova asks as bluntly as mischievously. Ly denies it. However, it becomes increasingly clear in the course of “Where Zebus Speak French” that the various development measures, often introduced by foreign initiatives and fuelled by corrupted politicians, also affect him.

Focussing on Sitabaomba, Lova shows over several years how the village population attempt to defend their farmland. Their fight is reminiscent of David against Goliath but doesn’t lead to despondence. Because in Madagascar, a very unique form of artistic, especially linguistic expression has always been cultivated which, at its best, allows people to maintain an inner independence. The commentary is therefore spoken in the style of “Kabary.” This polite, rhetorically sophisticated and sometimes mocking form of speech elegantly circumvents criticism, thus stating it all the more clearly. An artist also visits the village repeatedly and makes stones speak with the children, confirming an attitude Nantenaina Lova describes as follows: “Laughing at injustice rather than crying, resisting rather than pitying.”

Carolin Weidner

Credits DOK Leipzig Logo

Director
Nantenaina Lova
Script
Nantenaina Lova, Eva Lova-Bély
Cinematographer
Nantenaina Lova, Nantenaina Fifaliana
Editor
Nantenaina Lova, Emmanuel Roy
Producer
Eva Lova-Bély, Candy Radifera
Co-Producer
Nicole Gehards, Nina Fernandez, Michel Zongo
Sound
Jonathan Narlysh Rafidiarison, Nantenaina Fifaliana
Sound Design
Julien Verstraete
Score
Various Malagasy Music Bands
Animation
Herizo Ramilijaonina
Narrator
Claudia Tagbo
Winner of: Leipziger Ring