Expedition Niger: Real Africa (2023)

Niger Festivals: December 1961 - Niger Independence Days

Commemorative celebrations of the independence of the Republic of Niger filmed in December 1961 and 1962.

Hampi

A ritual vase, the hampi, is placed in the center of the Musée de plein air de la République du Niger in Niamey, during a ritual ceremony featuring possession dances. With this film, Jean Rouch continues his ethnological and cinematographic study of Songhay ritual objects. He demonstrates that, in a particular context, the transfer of a hampi vase to a museum requires the organization of a ritual ceremony to obtain the gods' approval. At the time, however, reservations about filming a possession dance for the opening of a shrine in a museum made the move "questionable from a museological point of view".

Pam Kuso Kar (Breaking Pam's Vases)

In February 1974, Pam Sambo Zima, the oldest of the priests of possession in Niamey, Niger, died at the age of seventy-plus years. In his backyard, the followers from the possession cult symbolically break the dead priest's ritual vases and cry for the deceased while dividing up the clothes of the divinities.

Horendi

The title of this film translates literally as 'to put on a hori,' a hori being the Songhay term for ceremony of festival. Here it is used to refer to a ganandi, literally 'to make dance' This film concerns two women whom the zima [priest] had diagnosed some months before as being ill through possession by spirits. In the meantime, their families have gathered together the resources to pay for the musicians, dancers, and the priest himself to put on an initiation dance lasting seven days This is a film of documentation, simply recording various moments in the progress of the ceremony, without any form of explanation, neither in intertitle cards nor in voice-over. (Paul Henley, The Adventure of the Real)

Zomo et ses frères

A portrait of Zomo, the second of Damouré Zika’s many children. Employed at the zoo of the National Museum of Niger in Niamey, he offers us a tour, showing us the animals he takes care of. Then, when the work is finished, he invites us to an impromptu concert by “Jeunesse Gawey,” the “popular music” orchestra he forms with his brothers and sisters, who sing and dance for us pretty songs about their lives, their family, and Nigerien youth.

L'Afrique et la recherche scientifique

This documentary offers an overview of French scientific research in Africa French scientific research in Africa: hydrology, botany, biology oil palm and coconut cultivation, industrial sea fishing and and urban planning. Film montage taking stock of scientific research research in Africa, mainly in the fields of hydrology hydrology, botany, biology and agriculture. The film is a compilation of extracts from several short films made by Jean Rouch in Mali, Niger and Côte d'Ivoire between 1962 and 1963: Abidjan, port de pêche, Le Mil, Le Cocotier and Le Palmier à l'huile. l'huile.

The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat

A group of people are standing along the platform of a railway station in La Ciotat, waiting for a train. One is seen coming, at some distance, and eventually stops at the platform. Doors of the railway-cars open and attendants help passengers off and on. Popular legend has it that, when this film was shown, the first-night audience fled the café in terror, fearing being run over by the "approaching" train. This legend has since been identified as promotional embellishment, though there is evidence to suggest that people were astounded at the capabilities of the Lumières' cinématographe.

The Jihadis Next Door

Over the course of two years, filmmaker Jamie Roberts meets those spreading extremist Islamic fundamentalism in Britain, including a bouncy castle salesman who is now one of the world's most wanted men.

Whatever Happened to Gelitin

Art dealer Salvatore Viviano and director Angela Christlieb embark on a search for the lost artist collective Gelitin, which since the 1990s has shattered the borders of "good taste" again and again with extravagant actions and installations. Interviews with old companions and artist friends in the U.S., Europe, and Asia are linked with anarchically montaged Gelitin archive material: intense, transgressive, experimental, gaudily colorful, funny, and virulent.

Crazy Love

Magda and Michał, actors of the famous Teatr 21, created by people with Down syndrome, fall in love with each other. After the enthusiastically received proposal, the couple begins planning a wedding, which is met with mixed reactions from their loved ones.

Invitation to a Royal Wedding

ITN News' Sir Trevor McDonald and Julie Etchingham look ahead to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and go behind the scenes of previous royal weddings, speaking to those involved in organising them.

Die Nati

Plot unavailable

Tromalesque

A burlesque tribute to Troma Entertainment featuring new performances based on previous Troma releases.

Mother Vera

Shot in black and white in a lyrical, documentary style, Vera takes us from the hidden, religious world of the Belarusian convent to rural farmland, where men and women facing personal and social difficulties live and work. It is here that Vera expresses her deep connection with the horses that she looks after as part of her obedience (religious duty). The film is narrated by Vera as she tells her story of finding faith as a young woman and the impact it has had on her emotionally and spiritually.

Wonder Boy

At age 25, Olivier Rousteing was named the creative director of the French luxury fashion house, Balmain. At the time, Rousteing was a relatively unknown designer, but in the decade since, he’s proven his business prowess and artistic instinct by leading Balmain to new heights. Wonderboy gives the viewer the rare opportunity to experience the inner sanctum of the fashion world, as we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with this extraordinary individual while he works.

Ele Era Assim: Ary Barroso

Ary Barroso was one of the greatest composers of Brazilian music with his successes for the whole planet. Know its history, reconstructed through Ary's own audio files, interspersed with reports from friends and family.

An Honest Liar

An Honest Liar tells the incredible story of the world-famous magician, escape artist, and world-renowned enemy of deception, James 'The Amazing' Randi. The film brings to life Randi's intricate investigations that publicly exposed psychics, faith healers, and con-artists with quasi-religious fervor. A master deceiver who came out of the closet at the age of 81, Randi created fictional characters, fake psychics, and even turned his partner of 25 years, Jose Alvarez, into a sham guru named Carlos.

The Misanthrope

The Misanthrope is the film debut from Darkthrone's Nocturno Culto and provides a unique insight into the heart of the Norwegian Black Metal scene.

Revelar: Indicios de identidad

Documentary about the signs and premonitions the recovered grandchildren experienced before learning their true identities.

The Making of Gladiator II

An inside look that offers unprecedented access encompassing all aspects of production, from the grand scope of the sets — including reconstructing Ancient Rome — to characters, combat training, costumes, historical accuracy, scoring and more. The footage captured on the set of Gladiator II offers unparalleled, exclusive access to filmmaker Ridley Scott’s inner circle, and insights into his creative process.

Barefoot and Without a Hat

Summertime in Prerow at the Baltic Sea. A cheerful film with the spirit of the sixties.

The Green Hell

Lurking in the dense forests of the German region of Eifel is the most legendary, demanding and deadly racing circuit in the world - the Nürburgring. The Green Hell will reveal and explore the unique relationship between man, machine and nature, set against the most famous circuit in the world.

Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars

An unflinching and deeply personal journey into the life and work of guitarist Eric Clapton told through his own words and songs.

American Jihad

Documentary probe into the phenomenon of home-grown Jihadism, analyzing the strategic outreach and tactics employed by terrorists in order to reach susceptible members of society and what can be done to prevent it. Featuring intimate stories from former Jihadists radicalized to commit violent acts of terrorism and their families and communities caught in the crosshairs.

Bra Boys

A film about the cultural evolution of the Sydney beach side suburb of Maroubra and the social struggle faced by it's youth - the notorious surf gang known as the Bra Boys.

The Forgotten Imperial Army

Oshima exposes the fact that many wounded soldiers cannot receive compensation from the Japanese government because of their Korean nationality, while questioning if this is a just way for the Japanese to act. The documentary uses TV to problematize the apathy of the Japanese people. According to Oshima’s 'The Idea of Evil and Cruelty' and Sato Tadao’s 'History of Japanese Documentary Film', the actual situation was much more serious and harsher than the documentary depicts.

Counterpunch

As boxing's popularity wanes, three fighters at different stages of their career make sacrifices to pursue their dreams of becoming champions.

The Ossuary

A non-narrative voyage round Sedlec Ossuary, which has been constructed from over 50,000 human skeletons (victims of the Black Death).

Pearl Jam: Single Video Theory

This video is not your typical collection of music videos. Rather than being simply a straightforward presentation of videos, Single Video Theory also contains footage of the band members recording their album in the studio. The camera captures the actual recording sessions as well as the band members chatting candidly about their concept and ideas for the music. Directed by Mark Pellington and shot in 16mm over 3 days in 1997.

The London Nobody Knows

Based on Geoffrey Fletcher’s book, this captivating documentary exposes the real London of the swinging sixties. Turning its back on familiar sights, the film explores the hidden details of a crumbling metropolis. With James Mason as our Guide, we are led on an tour of the weird and wonderful pockets of London from abandoned music-halls to egg breaking factories.

No Direction Home: Bob Dylan

A chronicle of Bob Dylan's strange evolution between 1961 and 1966 from folk singer to protest singer to "voice of a generation" to rock star.

Iron Maiden: Flight 666

Heavy metal band Iron Maiden's 2008 Somewhere Back in Time World Tour. This concert recording accompanies the documentary film "Iron Maiden: Flight 666". The 16 songs performed were filmed live in 16 different cities giving you the full experience of the live power of Maiden and their fans all around the globe.

The Show Must Go On

The Show Must Go On is a personal journey behind the scenes that confronts the epidemic of mental health issues in the Australian entertainment industry.

Bellissime

A documentary about how the concept beauty influences the new generations.

Pink Elephants

The dynamics of a cult? Fragile actors are deconstructed by their mentor. Forbidden from discussing it with the outside, instructed to rid their lives of anyone who questions the method.

Podnieks On Podnieks. A Witness To History

A film about the outstanding Latvian film director Juris Podnieks, who during his lifetime gained the fame of a fighter for justice and an "eye-opener". Podnieks has created testimonies about the most important events of the twentieth century in the post-Soviet territory. He always saw a bigger picture, it was not just Latvia what interested him. His ability to cover such a wide spectrum of themes - wars, lost freedom of his own country, the Soviet regime and its collapse, young people, artists. But most importantly, he was always focusing on the human soul. Juris creates an emotional bond between the author and his characters, the characters and the viewer - he was talking to each individual. Perhaps this is why his films made such an effect on the viewer. Juris Podnieks has clearly been able to influence millions of viewers with his films. Juris himself died in the summer of 1992 in a diving accident. Did he manage to fulfill his mission in this life?

Killing Diana

On the 25th anniversary of Princess Diana’s tragic passing, we’re going behind castle walls to look at the extraordinary life and legacy of “The People’s Princess,” how destiny took her from the world too soon that tragic night in Paris, and how she not only reshaped the Monarchy but continues reshaping it today.

Sumario 3/94

Plot unavailable

Avicii - My Last Show

On Aug. 28, 2016, Tim Bergling, better known as Avicii, graced the stage of the Ushuaïa nightclub in Ibiza for what would be his final performance.