The Documentary Journey of Madame Anita Conti

Directed by Louise Hémon

  • genre Creative Documentary
  • duration 38 minutes
  • status diffusion

In 1952, Anita Conti, France's first female oceanographer, embarked on a trawler to share the hard life of Atlantic cod fishermen, alone with her camera and sixty men for six months. Using her 16mm film rushes and photographs, the film reveals her scientific and yet tender gaze for the workers of the sea. This pioneering woman foresaw the need to protect the oceans.This film explores the modernity of her struggle, as well as the hazy, rhythmic beauty of her writing and photography.

Team

  • Direction and Screenplay Louise Hémon
  • Collaboration in Writing Aurélie Brousse
  • Production Hutong Productions (France)
  • Co-production Tébéo, Tébésud, and TVR
  • Support Brouillon d’un rêve (SCAM), Fonds d’aide à l’innovation documentaire et fonds de soutien audiovisuel CNC, Région Normandie, FACCA région Bretagne, Cinémathèque de Bretagne, Procirep-Angoa.

Partners

  • Partenaires financiers CNC Fonds d'aide à l'innovation & Fonds de Soutien audiovisuel, SCAM Brouillon d'un rêve, Région Normandie, Région Bretagne, Procirep-Angoa, Cinémathèque de Bretagne

Screenings

  • Festival Visions du Réel Nyon PREMIERE MONDIALE
  • Champs-Élysées Film Festival PRIX DU PUBLIC MOYEN-METRAGE
  • Archivio Aperto Festival PRIX DU MEILLEUR COURT-METRAGE
  • Mares da fin do Mundo IFF PRIX DU PUBLIC
  • Concorto Film Festival Programme spécial Supernature
  • Festival de Douarnenez Section Regards d'ici
  • Villa Ducontenia - La Rotonde Exposition Anita Conti "Des eaux septentrionales aux mers chaudes"
  • FLiMM Festival Libre du Moyen Métrage Sélection officielle
  • Musée des Pêcheries de Fécamp Exposition Anita Conti
  • Fêtes Maritimes Douarnenez
  • Cinéma l'Image Plougastel Projection spéciale
  • CEFF French Tour Toulouse
  • UNDERDOX Festival Munich
  • Mois du Doc Bretagne
  • ZINEBI Section Beautiful Docs
  • Vidéodrome 2 Marseille Projection spéciale
  • CINEX Grenoble Projection spéciale

Press reviews

  • Le Télégramme "This film is sensitive and tough, and it takes great strength of character to pull that off."
  • Ouest France "The film conveys its message with delicacy and introduces us to this formidable, avant-garde woman."
  • Visions du Réel "A scientific and poetic witness to a bygone era, (...) with this stunning film, Louise Hémon paints a dual portrait of a woman dedicated to her cause and her multi-faceted work."
  • Kinodromo "Hémon shines a spotlight on Conti’s pioneering vision, which remains highly relevant today in conversations surrounding the sustainability and future of the fishing industry and the ocean’s ecosystems"