EF-7 Maurice: le monde dans une île
EF-8 Flueve Sénégal: un combat contre la mort (29 min.)
The French-speaking countries of Mali, Senegal, and Mauritania
in Western Africa have joined their efforts and resources to fight for
the growing desertification of the upper Senegal valley. Mona Makki interviews
village leaders, farmers, and shepards of the area in order to understand
the active involvement of the local populations in the processes of irrigation,
damming, and water conservation. Some of the major construction projects
and their impact on the future of the region are discussed by the engineers
in charge and by local residents who complain of being underinformed by
the authorities.
EF-12 Haïti: un peuple créateur (29 min.)
The republic of Haïti was the first independent black nation
in the world. In this program, Espace francphone explores some of
the best known aspects of Haïtian popular culture (naïve paintings,
crafts, sculptures) and explains their connections to religious beliefs
and practices, especially the infamous voodoo tradition. Interviews
with artistes and artisans alternate with scenes of voodoo dances and displays
of local customs, while two university professors provide the necessary
background information on the history and the evolution of the country.
EF-13 Vietnam d’hier et d’aujourd’hui (29 min.)
Since the end of war in the late 1970’s, Vietnam has been working
to recover its past and traditions in order to strengthen its national
identity. At the same time, however, the nation has opened itself
to outside influences, as in its recent membership in the alliance of French-speaking
nations. Espace francophone presents four distinctive forms of Vietnamese
art and culture: water puppets, a popular form of entertainment; field
singing, practiced by farm workers; sung poetry with musical accompaniment;
and traditional theater. Each segment is presented and by musicologist
Tran Van khé and followed by a discussion with university students,
historians, and government officials.
EF-23 Norodom Sihanouk: la permanence de l’identité khmère
EF-24 Luxembourgeois, qui êtes-vous? (29 min.)
Wedged in between Belgium, Germany, and France, the small country
of Luxembourg is known to most Europeans for its financial powers and its
mastery of modern communication. In a series of candid interviews, citizens
describe themselves, their opinions, and their relations with other nations.
The result is a kaleidoscopic view of a representative cross section of
the country, framed by talks with the head of the state, Jacques Santer;
the director of the audio-visual commission, Pierre Werner; and a leading
banker, Charles Ruppert.
EF-25 Louisiane francophone: lâche pas la patate! (30 min.)
The use of French in the state of Louisiana
has been sustained in the face of the inevitable influence of Americanization.
This program explores the dangers of cultural assimilation in the wake
of the electronic media explosion, but also describes the rebirth of Cajun
identity and the steps taken to protect this cultural heritage. While
some of the people interviewed describe a losing battle, the younger generation
is more than ever aware of the need to have access to the Francophone world.
Singer Zachary Richard, cultural attaché Adam Steg, and others describe
the need not simply to learn French but to communicate with the rest of
the French-speaking world. The program includes clips from songs, a radio
show, and two television shows. It is followed by Le journal de la francophonie.
MF-1 Afrique dominée, Afrique libérée (30 min.)
This film not only traces the history of colonialism in Africa,
it asks pertinent questions about the slow process of decolonialization:
who decides? who benefits? does this spell freedom for native populations?
or does it mean a new brand of dependence?
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