Tanya Batson Savage, Freelance Writer
THE 29TH staging of the Francophone Film Festival began at the Palace Cineplex, Sovereign Centre on Wednesday night with two films. The first was an animated short film from Canada, Âme Noir (Black Soul) and the second, the main feature from Guadeloupe, Nég Maron.
Nég Maron, directed by Jean-Claude Flamand, was a particularly interesting choice for the festival, given the recent race riots in France. It tells the story of two boys who would be men, who are both buckling under the combined pressures of racial prejudice, economic strife and dysfunctional family life.
TRYING DESPERATELY
Silex (Didier Daley) and Josua (Admiral T) have been friends for years. The story follows these two as they get deeper into a life of crime and find themselves swimming (or rather trying desperately not to drown) in waters they find far too deep, which eventually tugs at the limits of their friendship. Both lack any true responsibility, which they blame on their lack of family structure and on racial inequalities.
Despite their closeness, Silex and Josua are very different. Whereas Josua is bent on getting what he can in life, insistent that his lot is already bad enough, Silex has a far more devil-may-care attitude. Their lives are further complicated as they are beset by violence that they both create and fall into.
COMPLICATED STORY
The story of Silex and Josua's desperate grasp for manhood is further complicated by the industrial/ political unrest which is also taking place in the town. Issues of racism also creep in, suggesting that the problem of the dispossessed youth goes well beyond individual irresponsibility and echoes back to problems in the wider society that stretch back to its slave history.
The script is not as neatly tied together as it could be, and a few strands, particularly Silex' romantic involvement is allowed to dangle for too long. Additionally, the end is a little disappointing, but for the most part, Nég Maron makes an interesting film.
Nég Maron will be shown twice more in the festival. It is one of two shows slated for Saturday, November 26. Nég Maron will be shown at 8:00 p.m. while Les Bronzes (French Fried Vacation) will be shown at 5:30 p.m.
The festival, which began its public viewing yesterday, will continue through to Sunday, December 4, when Nég Maron will close the screenings. A live action version of Asterix et Obelix: Mission Cleopatra will also be screened, as the evening's early film.
This year's festival features 15 films, most of which are from France. There is also a Belgian film, Petites Miseres - Shopping (November 28). There are also three Canadian films: The Short, Black Soul, Seraphin: A Man and His Sin (December 1) and La Grande Seduction (November 27).
