Catherine Gouze

The Senegal River forms the national border between Mauritania and Senegal. In 1989, war broke out between these countries, along and around the river. Both sides committed atrocities. Senegalese filmmaker Alassane Diago was just a young child at the time. Now he brings together his “Senegalese and Mauritanian family,” all victims or witnesses of the bloodbath, so they can talk in detail about their traumatic experiences. He wants to find the truth, and to bring about reconciliation. Why did they slaughter each other, and why were so many people “deported”? Was there systemic racism involved, under the white and Arab elite? Was it a case of ethnic cleansing?

For a long time, Nicolas has been getting by on his own. He is now 13 years old, loves the story of Ulysses and Jack London's books, and lives in a foster home in the Bruche valley with his friend Saef, who travelled from far away across the sea. Together they go into the woods to listen to their music and talk about girls or mopeds. Or to run away. From time to time, Nicolas sees his mother for a christening, a trip to the fairground, or a soda. Soon, he will have to find his place.

Mourning his boyfriend Frédéric's death from an overdose, the French filmmaker David Teboul goes to Siberia on a ritual journey. Out here, under the enormous dome of the skies, he finds the free space to disentangle his thoughts again. And in the villages, both young and old people unexpectedly turn out to be prepared to respond to his invitation to talk about an event that changed their lives. Life, death, love and existence.