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2010 Festival Feature Films (March 25-28)

French director Christian Zerbib, assistant director Touria Benzari and special guest Seydou Togola present En terre étrangère

director Christian Zerbib screenplay Christian Zerbib interviews with Charles Berling, Emmanuelle Béart, Josiane Balasko, Seydou Togola, François Rebsamen running time 1 h 16 min general audience

Synopsis

The interwoven stories of illegal immigrants who have left behind everything in search of a better life in France, and who now almost regret having come, and of those in Africa who are ready to follow their example and to risk their lives by crossing the seas. We are shown the unknown dimensions of these men who remain so close and yet so far from us, our brothers despite the borders drawn by men.

director/screenwriter
Christian Zerbib

actor/director
Charles Berling

selected filmography

actress
Emmanuelle Béart

selected filmography

actress/director
Josiane Balasko

Notes on the film by Christian Zerbib (director)

A film is a vision. A craving for elsewhere is also a vision. Where does it stem from? What is this vision of illegal immigrants who have left everything to come to our country and of those in Africa who are ready to follow their example and risk their lives by crossing the seas? I have looked in the eyes of those who want to come and of those who have been here for years. They are proud of their journey, even if they are disappointed with France, with the poor reception once finally here, with the harshness and the high price they have had to pay. But still, they smile, they laugh, they love life, they love being free and they love having their immigration papers in order, not being “illegal” anymore, as if they had been criminals for wanting to cross their border of hopelessness, their border of absolute misery, their border of no future. They sacrifice themselves for their extended family and by this sacrifice they liberate themselves, exonerate themselves from their unfavorable destiny. They open up the path for their future and that of their children. They are courageous, selfless and they embody a lesson for the rest of humanity living in comfort. Their return to Africa — their return as free men, in their movements, free to cross borders, a shock, for them, for me, for their families who thought they would never see them again. My camera films each moment — the explosions of joy, but also the modesty, the unsaid, what is kept silent or underplayed devotion for this France that is so well-loved, but also so unpredictable and disappointing as an inconstant mistress. The human dimension of these destinies, those of the film’s characters as of all others, is more valuable than all discourse, all analysis, all statistics.