Joël Farges

A prominent Czech journalist Saša Uhlová leaves her family and joins “cheap labour force” in Western Europe. Undercover, she works at an asparagus farm in Germany, tries her hand as a maid at a hotel in Ireland and takes care of the elderly in France. She experiences first-hand the struggles of Eastern European low-wage workers whose sacrifice and hard work allow for the Western society’s comfort. What is the real price that Europe pays for exploiting its own citizens? How do the lives of economic migrants, who have been forced to leave their children and elderly parents, look like? And why are privileged Europeans looking the other way?

A story of an extraordinary artist who has unintentionally signed a deal with a devil. Jiří Trnka was one of the biggest Czech artists of the 20th century and one of the founders of the puppet animation. His work demonstrated the world that communist society can provide better conditions for extraordinary artistic creations. The ideological clash between West and East didn’t leave children and their stories apart from their struggle in ideological and political positions.

A story of an extraordinary artist who has unintentionally signed a deal with a devil. Jiří Trnka was one of the biggest Czech artists of the 20th century and one of the founders of the puppet animation. His work demonstrated the world that communist society can provide better conditions for extraordinary artistic creations. The ideological clash between West and East didn’t leave children and their stories apart from their struggle in ideological and political positions.

Mario and his brother Alonso become committed to fishing in a coral-reef in the southern Philippines. With many other children of different origin they work for starvation wages on the ship of unscrupulous captain Murène. Together they drive shoals of fish into a big fish trap having to use the dangerous muro-ami technique in the coral-reefs. Fastened to a stone, the little divers jump into the water to reach the depth faster. Without any equipment they dive down 30 meters. The brutal captain treats the exhausted children like slaves

Mario and his brother Alonso become committed to fishing in a coral-reef in the southern Philippines. With many other children of different origin they work for starvation wages on the ship of unscrupulous captain Murène. Together they drive shoals of fish into a big fish trap having to use the dangerous muro-ami technique in the coral-reefs. Fastened to a stone, the little divers jump into the water to reach the depth faster. Without any equipment they dive down 30 meters. The brutal captain treats the exhausted children like slaves

사랑의 양면성을 처절하게 그리고 있는 다레잔 오미르바예프의 신작. 아스타나(Astana)에 사는 삼십 세의 아름다운 츄가(Chouga)는 불화를 겪고 있는 동생 부부의 관계를 화해시키기 위해 알마티(Almaty)로 갔다가, 시누이의 여동생 알티나이(Altynai)의 애인인 젊고 매력적인 알바이(Albai)를 만난다. 둘은 곧 사랑에 빠지고, 결국 츄가는 일곱 살 난 아들과 남편을 버리고 사랑의 도피를 한다. 그러나 영원할 것 같던 그들의 사랑은 곧 시들고, 츄가는 절망에 빠져 삶의 공허함을 느끼게 된다. 그리고 마침내 그녀는 극단적인 선택을 하게 된다. 반면 알바이로부터 버림받았던 알티나이는 자신을 따라다니던 틀레겐(Tleguen)과 결혼하고 아이를 낳아 행복한 삶을 누린다. 츄가와 알티나이의 극단적인 삶의 대비는 운명의 가혹함과 사랑의 양면성을 강조한다. - 제12회 부산국제영화제

In 1889, mounted on a small gray horse named Serko, Dimitri leaves his garrison on the Asian borders of the Russian Empire on the banks of the Amur River. After extraordinary adventures, they both arrive in St. Petersburg, at the court of the Tsar. Having covered more than 9000 kilometers in less than 200 days, this young rider has achieved the most fantastic equestrian feat of all time.

In 1889, mounted on a small gray horse named Serko, Dimitri leaves his garrison on the Asian borders of the Russian Empire on the banks of the Amur River. After extraordinary adventures, they both arrive in St. Petersburg, at the court of the Tsar. Having covered more than 9000 kilometers in less than 200 days, this young rider has achieved the most fantastic equestrian feat of all time.

Two young men went on a ride with their old friend in his truck across the whole Mauritius, the sole purpose of it being finding and getting two girls to entertain them that very night back home.

A hangman questions the moral implications of his job after learning that he executed an innocent man.

1979년과 1989년사이의 중국은 엄청난 변화를 겪은 시기이다. 개방정책으로 인한 문화,경제적 변화는 사람들의 의식구조에도 많은 영향을 끼쳤다. 지아장커는 샨시성(Province of Shanxi)의 펜양에 있는 한 조그만 마을의 선전가무단의 변화해가는 모습을 통해 80년대의 중국사회를 들여다 본다. 1979년의 선전가무단은 이름 그대로 정치선전 공연을 하지만, 사회의 변화에 따라 점차 공연의 내용이 락과 브레이크댄스를 포함한 대중문화 중심으로 바뀌어 간다. 이처럼 지아장커는 공연을 위해 전국을 떠돌아 다니는 그들의 행로를 통해 중국의 지난 10년간의 변화를 고스란히 담고 있다. 전기조차 들어오지 않던 곳에 전기가 들어오고 곧 이어 TV가 보급되기 시작하는가 하면, 서구문명이 급격히 유입되면서 대중들의 물질적 가치관이 바뀌기 시작하는 변환기에 공연을 다니는 선전가무단의 젊은이들 역시 자신이 추구하는 이상이 서서히 바뀌어 가는 것이다. 그러나, 그러한 사회의 급격한 변화에도 불구하고 변화가 없는 것은 삶 그 자체다. 젊은이들은 언제나 그랬듯이 미래와 미지에 대해 동경하고, 기성세대는 그러한 그들을 꾸짖는다. 남녀간의 사랑도 시대와 체제를 불문하고 변함이 없지만 사회적 제약 또한 변함이 없다. 하지만 기묘하게도 지아장커는 변하는 것과 변하지 않는 것 모두에 대해 애착을 지니고 있는 것처럼 보인다. 그것은 아마도 지난 10년이 자신에게도 소중한 시간이었기 때문일 것이다. (2000년 5회 부산국제영화제)

In Jakarta, a young journalist struggling to escape from the confines of familiar obligations, receives a telegram informing him that his mother is dying.

Marat works as a personal driver in Almaty, capital of Kazakhstan. When he hits a Mercedes, the nightmare begins. The loan he accepts to pay for the damages puts him at the mercy of a Mafia boss.

Whenever people are released from their society's constraints, there is the possibility that they will behave badly, at least according to the rules of the society they have left behind. This seems to have been particularly the case for Europeans living in colonial establishments in Africa and Asia. In this drama, based on a story by Stefan Zweig, Dr. Steiner (Andrzej Seweryn) was caught with his fingers in the till at a German hospital. Rather than prosecute him, they gave him the option of emigrating elsewhere. He chose to serve at a clinic in a remote part of Portuguese Goa. He has been on his best behavior for years, but when the beautiful wife (Fanny Ardant) of a diplomat comes to him asking for an abortion, he is tempted to ask for sexual favors in return, and his life swiftly goes out of control.

Whenever people are released from their society's constraints, there is the possibility that they will behave badly, at least according to the rules of the society they have left behind. This seems to have been particularly the case for Europeans living in colonial establishments in Africa and Asia. In this drama, based on a story by Stefan Zweig, Dr. Steiner (Andrzej Seweryn) was caught with his fingers in the till at a German hospital. Rather than prosecute him, they gave him the option of emigrating elsewhere. He chose to serve at a clinic in a remote part of Portuguese Goa. He has been on his best behavior for years, but when the beautiful wife (Fanny Ardant) of a diplomat comes to him asking for an abortion, he is tempted to ask for sexual favors in return, and his life swiftly goes out of control.

The story of three young people in 1951, when the former French trading post of Pondicherry is attached to India.

Cannes Film Festival 1981