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How do you perceive the evolution of public discourse around racial, identity, and memory issues in France— and does your film arrive at this precise moment by chance or by necessity?
Flashmag! Issue 171 April 2026
I don’ t believe in chance. If it took me twenty years after my dissertation to make this film, it’ s because I needed to work through these questions within myself before I could offer them to others. And the timing was right. The film exceeds me now. It has the educational reach I anticipated, but also a therapeutic dimension I hadn’ t foreseen. People feel liberated after watching it. My film creates a space that is clearly missing: to set down burdens, to put words to wounds— especially for older generations who lived with the impossibility of expressing their feelings, including within their own families, which is far less discussed than structural inequalities. I understood this at the screening-debate at the Sorbonne, with the support of CM98: nearly 500 people came with very little communication effort. The film had previously been screened at the National Assembly with the support of MP Jiovanny William— again, a record number of registrations. Since then, I’ ve been accompanied by MP Maud Petit and former MEP Max Orville. That is why I now only offer screening-debates: people would leave deeply frustrated without the chance to speak. And since it’ s a dense film— 31 minutes packed with information— many people watching it a second time say they think I’ ve added things. I haven’ t: it’ s simply that the brain doesn’ t have time to process everything on first viewing, especially when the emotional response is so strong. When possible, I invite figures to enrich the discussions: specialists, filmmakers, authors, politicians. I’ ve had the great privilege of welcoming people like Euzhan Palcy, Firmine Richard, Claudy Siar, and Galiam Bruno Henry.
Commitments & Transmission
At the“ L’ Afrique fait son cinéma” festival – Best Short Documentary Film Award 2025
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Your collaboration with Prince Serge Guézo, your advocacy for Afro-Creole cultures in video games, your cinema— do you see a common thread running through all these commitments? What do you hope to transmit with LAPO CHAPÉ? Yes, absolutely— there is a total connection, and my path is coherent even if it sometimes appears unexpected.