Organized by the French and Francophone Society of Princeton University in collaboration with various local and international organizations, the Princeton French Film Festival will feature some of the most compelling films of recent francophone cinema. It will take place between April 16–28, 2023, and is open to the public. The film screenings will be held in McCosh 10 and Betts Auditorium.
The first of the five films, “Animal,” was screened on April 16. The President Yassine Ait Ali and Movie Officer Hervé Goerger of the French and Francophone Society opened the event, providing context to the film by detailing the history of animal documentaries in the francophone world and addressed questions of speciesism. The 2021 documentary depicts two 16-year-olds in conversation with environmental science experts, policy makers, and the environment itself to question humanity’s fear, animosity, and indifference towards other species
The film repositions humanity in relation to its environment, questioning the perspective we should adopt for a better and more sustainable future. The two teenagers travel around the world to meet expert economists, activists, and scientists to gain different perspectives on the current position of humanity in its ecosystem. Despite their initially naive goal of finding a solution to environmental problems, they quickly become aware of the impossibility of settling on a singular answer. Each expert takes a slightly different approach, and each of them is important in their own capacity. However, their approaches all point in one direction: humanity needs to leave its superiority complex behind and see itself as a part of the animal kingdom and of nature in general.
Following the screening, representatives of “Share My Meals,” one of the most influential local non-profit organizations to work with food providers to prevent waste, answered questions about food waste on campus, off campus at restaurants, and in the greater Princeton area. The discussion was not only relevant to the topic of sustainability in the movie but also to our lifestyle at Princeton, where dining halls and eating clubs dispose of large amounts of food each day.
The second movie on the list, “Gagarine,” tells the story of 16-year-old Youri, who lives in a vast red brick housing project called Cité Gagarine. Youri aspires to become an astronaut, just like his namesake Yuri Gagarin. Detailing the relationship between the teenager and the building where he grew up, “Gagarine” interpolates dreams with reality and humans with their concrete shelters. Excellently demonstrating the power of imagination, the movie invites its audience to Betts Auditorium on April 19 at 6:30 p.m.
You might have heard of the third film on the list, either because it depicts the work of the recent Nobel literature prize winner Annie Ernaux or because of its strong theme. “Happening” (L'Événement), which will be screened on April 23 at 6:30 p.m., tells the story of a young student named Anne who falls pregnant in 1963. The movie touches the audience through its emotionally charged and overwhelming account of the reality of abortion.
“Lingui, The Sacred Bonds,” which will be screened on April 26 at 7 p.m., takes us to Chad where a mother, Amina, and her 15-year-old daughter, Maria, struggle against oppressive, patriarchal structures of society. The adolescent daughter falls pregnant, and does not want to keep the baby. Her mother tries to support her, not only in taking action, but also in resisting the condemning voices of society.
“Freda,” directed by Gessica Généus, is set in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Depicting the financial struggles of a family who owns a little street shop, Freda poses questions of belonging and migration: Should one endure the difficulties of staying in one’s own country, or embark on a journey to another country in hopes of finding an easier life? This screening will take place on April 28 at 7:30 p.m., followed by a discussion and Q&A session with Généus.
Tickets are free and open to everyone. More information can be found on: https://frenchsoc.princeton.edu/french-film-festival
Ayse Basak Ersoy is a contributing writer for The Prospect at the ‘Prince.’ She can be reached at abersoy@princeton.edu.
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