Synopsis
Like a spiral reveals the anonymous testimonies of five women under the yoke of the Kafala system in Lebanon. Through a rich soundscape of voice-over, music and urban buzz, Lamia Chraibi impeccably captures Beirut in a tumultuous state. Grainy images, the effects of shadow and light and double exposures evoke the impossible dilemma of migrant domestic workers who have sometimes had to abandon their children for the promise of work, and who, in this powerful piece, tell of their toxic relationship with this country. Comme une spirale encourages us to reflect on notions of identity, home and justice, and the meanings they can be given by the harsh stories of these largely voiceless and disenfranchised women.

Synopsis
In Rio de Janeiro, Richard aspires to shine in the world’s biggest big tops. The day the 20-year-old artist is kicked out by his adoptive mother, his life is turned upside down. The contours of his dream become blurred, and a long search for his bearings begins. He finds refuge in a vibrant community of drag queens, and a new horizon opens up as he begins his transition to Ashila. In the midst of doubts, the discovery of candomblé spirits gives him hope, while his relationship with his sister remains an unshakeable pillar. Through an intimate approach drawing on direct cinema, Circo immerses us in the lives of Brazilian favela dwellers who are trying to reclaim their destiny.

Synopsis

In a mysterious forest, far from the borders of the China they left behind, painter Meng Huang and writer Ma Jian discuss exile, political struggle and artistic creation as a response to oppression and lies. Ma Jian lives in London. He is a dissident and a great writer, translated into many languages. He has not been able to return to China since 2011, when all his books were banned. Meng Huang lives in Berlin where he is a well-known painter, in exile by choice.

Synopsis
With an immersive soundscape that immerses us in the reality and perceptions of resilient, inspiring people, this documentary questions both our own blindness to the violence and suffering of our times – despite an overabundance of images – and the urgency of listening to these stories.

Synopsis

Away from the world, in a cobbled-together shack, Martin’s life is organized. Surrounded by a forest of spruce trees and scraps of metal, this indomitable loner patches together a new existence with his pack of cats. The disappearance of Junior, one of his felines, upsets his daily routine and brings back memories of the past.

Composed of fragments of life and fragile confessions, DES CHATS SAUVAGES plunges us into a territory and human nature of harsh beauty. Guided by a cinema of almost total incursion, the film explores themes of mourning and emancipation, while questioning our relationship with marginality.