France (1985-1987) / 31’
language French
main cast Damouré Zika, Mariama Hima, a few gondoleers
ideas, screenplay and improvisations Jean Rouch, Damouré Zika, Mariama Hima (and Gentile Bellini)
restoration curated by CNC (Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée)
film laboratory L21
Cinema
Jean Rouch - Cousin, Cousine
SYNOPSIS
Mariama and Damouré, two cousins, are in Venice looking for a relic—or fetish—lost a long time ago, as in one of Gentile Bellini’s famous paintings. Mariama shows Damouré the city, taking him to a boatshed to see how gondolas are built (a process very different from the way a dugout is made) or talking with him about those strange creatures that live on water, the Venetians... Moving then from the Grand Canal to the Niger River, the two mischievous cousins reveal to us that the relic is none other than the ritual ax of Dongo, the spirit of thunder... A “caprice” invented in Venice by Jean Rouch and his two friends, who came to the festival in 1985 to present a film made by Mariama Hima, Falaw (which won an award).
Production/Distribution
PRODUCTION 1: Jocelyne Rouch
168 boulevard du Montparnasse
75014 Paris – France
Tel. +33 0143354862
jocelyne.rouch@wanadoo.fr
RESTORATION BY: Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC)
7 bis, rue Alexandre Turpault
78390 Bois d’ Arcy – France
Tel. 0130148054
eric.le_roy@cnc.fr
WORLD SALES: Jocelyne Rouch
168 boulevard du Montparnasse
75014 Paris – France
Tel. +33 0143354862
jocelyne.rouch@wanadoo.fr
