Direct Action

Guillaume Cailleau, Ben Russell, DE/FR 2024, 216 min, French/Moroccan/Arabic/English OmeU

The self-governing community ZAD (Zone à Défendre) in north-western France emerged from resistance to the construction of an international airport and defied multiple eviction attempts over the years. Today, it continues to exist as a social experiment beyond capitalist structures. Filmmakers Guillaume Cailleau and Ben Russell approach this complex reality by showing various forms of resistance without hierarchy - from bread baking to pogo concerts to press work. In long, static shots on 16mm, an open, multi-layered narrative unfolds that does not provide any answers, but rather encourages the viewer's own interpretation. The film is both a document and an artistic act - a reflection on political struggles in cinema, a cinematic gesture of revolt. Guest: Guillaume Cailleau