In the Billowing Night

Erika Etangsalé / France / 2021 / Czech Premiere / 51 min.

synopsis

In this intimate film, the director presents a portrait of her father, Jean-René, who left his native Réunion at the age of 17 to work in France. Jean-René talks about his experiences, his homesickness, and his unclear cultural identity. In doing so, he also engages in a dialogue with her daughter, who is similarly dealing with her mixed ethnicity. The visually suggestive story of a father and daughter becomes a metaphor for ambivalence and post/colonial heritage.

“I wish I knew where my ancestors hailed from. All I know is that they were dispossessed from their land. But in my dreams, they manage to escape to the upper reaches of the island where a wild nature persists.” — Erika Etangsalé

biography

French director Erika Etangsalé (* 1983) lives and works in Réunion, where her father is from. In her films, she explores the boundaries between documentary and fiction, heritage and memory. In the Billowing Night won the Doc Alliance Prize for Best Short Film.