West Indies, Les Negres Marrons de la Liberté

In the sarcastic historical musical WEST INDIES, LES NÈGRES MARRONS DE LA LIBERTÉ, four centuries of Caribbean history take place in a slave ship built into an abandoned factory building. The lettering “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité” refers to the interdependence of France with the French Antilles, ranging from the transatlantic slave trade, colonization and the quest for independence to the history of labor migration to France. At the same time, the structure of the ship reflects relationships and hierarchies, dividing people into a top and a bottom. In this milestone of African cinema, scarce space is not a limitation; instead, with a wealth of ideas and joy of playing, it unfolds into a broad-based image of oppression and rebellion.