A French animated film about the massacre of Algerian demonstrators committed by the police in Paris in 1961 and hidden for decades by the authorities, was rewarded Thursday at the ceremony of the Oscars students in Los Angeles.
The short movie “Tears of the Seine” dissects the bloody police repression of the demonstration of Algerians on October 17, 1961, which caused dozens, even hundreds of deaths, under the authority of the prefect Maurice Papon.
A “tragedy (…) long killed, denied or concealed”, said President Emmanuel Macron last year, recognizing “crimes (…) inexcusable for the Republic”.
The film won a bronze medal at the ceremony. “We wanted to make this film to shed light on an event that is far too little known in France, when it is part of our history”, explained the directors, Yanis Belaid, Eliott Benard and Nicolas Mayeur, three students from the Pôle 3D school in Roubaix. “We would be happy if it inspires people to discover more, and to show our way of seeing the future without forgetting what happened”they added when receiving their award.
video length: 43sec
Yanis Belaïd explains why the animation was chosen. And what it allows. (23/07/2022)
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©Yanis Belaïd, co-director of the animated short “Les Larmes de la Seine”
On October 17, 1961, some 30,000 Algerians demonstrated peacefully in Paris against the curfew imposed on them, at the call of the National Liberation Front (FLN) which demanded the independence of Algeria. On the 60th anniversary of the massacre last year, Emmanuel Macron acknowledged
for the first time that “nearly 12,000 Algerians were arrested and transferred to sorting centers. In addition to many injuries, several dozen were killed, their bodies thrown into the Seine”.
video length: 02min 16
The 3D Pole and its creations
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©France Televisions. Vincent Dupire and Benoit Bugnicourt
Nearly 12,000 Algerians were arrested and transferred to sorting centers. In addition to numerous injuries, several dozen were killed, their bodies thrown into the Seine
Emmanuel Macron, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the massacre, October 17, 2021
video length: 43sec
Excerpt from Tears of the Seine
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©Tears of the Seine
The official toll has so far only counted three victims. Their number is estimated by historians to be at least several dozen or even several hundred. The student Oscars are very popular in Hollywood. Past winners include Spike Lee, Pete Docter (creator of “Monstres Inc.” and “Up”), Robert Zemeckis (director of “Back to the Future”), and Cary Fukunaga (director
of “Dying can wait”).
The gold medals were awarded on Thursday to films dealing with subjects as varied as space travel (“Almost Home”), lucid dreams (“Against Reality”) and child abduction (” Found”). On a lighter note, “An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It” won the top prize for animation. The Oscars ceremony will take place on March 12.
With AFP
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Pôle 3D de Roubaix: an animated film about the massacre of Algerians in Paris, winner of the Student Oscars