Until August 24, the Groix Island Film Festival (Morbihan) highlights the Portuguese islands. An option that allows you to learn more about this little-known cinematography, which was hampered for a long time by the Salazar dictatorship.
“Meu pescador, meu velho,” by Amaya Sompsey. A retrospective exhibition was dedicated to the director at the Groix International Island Film Festival. Produced by Diana Diego
Published August 23, 2024 at 6:32 pm
SOn the island of Groix (Morbihan), the traditional smell of butter and sugar tarts now blends with the scent of pancakes. Alentejana pork – A Portuguese dish consisting of pork slices, oysters and potatoes cooked with paprika. For him 23e Edition, the Groix Island International Film Festival (FIFIG) heads to the Portuguese islands. This choice is not accidental. Of the 2,300 residents of Al-Hassa, 10% are of Portuguese origin, as their parents or grandparents moved to the island in the 1960s during the construction of the dam. Another reason: fishing activities. “The history of the Groix is traditionally associated with fishing, especially tuna. As a result, many sailors went sailing towards Madeira and the Azores.” », explains Xavier Guillon, Co-President of Fifig.
In addition to the 30 films that will be shown until August 25 at the Cinéma des Familles as well as in Port-Lay – the smallest port in Europe – the entire island is decorated in the colors of the Portuguese islands. The theme is respected even on the event's glittering poster. Drawn by Madeira artist Cristiana de Sousa (“Andorinhapelocéu” from her artistic name), the illustration represents an island and an island. her rabbit, Traditional Christmas decorations. “At its top is generally the baby Jesus. But in this case I wanted to make it more fun and contemporary. So I put in another traditional element of Madeira culture: a Bonica Massa [figurine comestible en pâte d’amande, ndlr] “, explains the artist.
There is no cinematography specific to the islands, although there is a timeline that does not exist on the continent, due to nature.
Thiago Bartolomeu Costa, researcher, journalist and FILMar coordinator
In addition to the retrospective of filmmakers Amaya Sompsi and Gonzalo Tocha – an important figure in Azorean cinema – other artists are also being honored in the Port Lei Exhibition Hall. Georgina Abreu Thus he presents his photographs of the Grupo Folclórico da Casa do Povo da Camacha, a folkloric group from southern Madeira. “All my inspiration comes from our traditions, our landscapes and our collections that highlight nature. For me, that is living on an island.”“, explains the photographer. As for the artist Madeiran Daniel F. MilimAuthor of the work Tarot stories Whoever reconsiders the aforementioned card game, refuses to beautify life on the island, which is often ideal. “Of course, there is nature, the sea, five-hundred-meter cliffs… but there are also a lot of social injustices as well as strong conservatism.”
What about the seventh art? Will there be a special film production on the island? It is a difficult decision to make, according to Thiago Bartolomeu Costa, researcher, journalist and coordinator of FILMar, a project launched by Portuguese cinema to digitize cinematic heritage linked to the sea. “There is no cinematography specific to the islands, even if there is a timeline that does not exist on the continent due to nature. Until 1974 [année de la révolution des Œillets, qui a entraîné la chute de la dictature salazariste, ndlr], Movies They were largely propaganda works. »
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An opponent of dictatorship, the islands have long been used for ideological purposes. “The strikes, especially those of peasants who were struggling against the end of private property, gave the country a 'bad image' and slowed foreign investment. So the leaders produced films showing Madeira as a peaceful island. The aim was also to sell the archipelagos as tourist destinations. Thiago Bartolomeu Costa identifies. With the country's democratic transition, there is no longer a beautification of instability, there is room for reality: ” See you tomorrow Mario – Ateh Amanha, Mario [film d’ouverture du Fifig, ndlr] It is directed by the Swedish, naturalized Portuguese Solveig Nordlund, and its events take place in the same locations as the promotional film Pearl of the Atlantic (1937), By Motta da Costa and Heinrich Gärtner. Except that in 1993, Solveig's film caused trouble in the regional assembly because it denounced the reality of poor children left alone in Madeira. » Today, the cinematic production of the Portuguese islands is still small, but there is no doubt that the new generation will help highlight the island’s wealth.
