Trailler

Paysan

type : short documentary film
Timing : 00:13:00
screening formats : 4k DCP 16:9 scope stereo
Image : 25 Ips
Original languages: French
Subtiles : English
Country of production : Switzerland
Year of production : 2017

Copyright © Sylvain Renou / TFT, Le cabinet Créatif
All rights reserved.

Projection in Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Projection in Soubré, Ivory Coast

Festival Tokyo

Open debat in Switzerland

Director’s Statement

The creativity of the two farmers was really impressive. First shot in Africa in a very remote area. It was something very new for me. I could see the farmer was not a poor victim, he just needed more logistical support in order to be more resilient. But these guys are in the middle of nowhere, yet, so innovative and so strong. I realized that the image of farmers we have in Europe, of poor and vulnerable people isn’t realistic.

When I went to Normandie to photograph the French farmer, I thought it would be easier because we were in a European country. But it was tougher than in Africa. I had never seen someone work that much. Antoine was waking up at 4 am and working until 10 pm. I did not know it could be physically so demanding.

We thought it would be nice to compare and contrast the rural reality in countries with different levels of development. In the end we realized that their daily lives in Ivory Coast and France were very similar and that they had a lot in common.

Synopsis

The short film «Paysan» provides a sincere and touching portrait of two ­farmers: Antoine, a French dairy farmer and Amara, a cocoa producer in ­Ivory Coast. These two men do not know each other. Completely different rural landscapes unfold in the narrative voice as it tells the story of two men who both decided to choose their own development and to respect nature.

Crew
Writer, director: Sylvain Renou
Voice over: Cédric Simon
Sound design: Cédric Simon
Editing: Gregory Pescia
Photography: Sylvain Renou
Color grading: Marc McAndrews
Executive producer: The Forest Trust, Le Cabinet Créatif
Producer : Marianne Martinet, Bastien Sachet

Contact
prod (at) lecabinetcreatif (dot) com
+41 79 306 83 42