Marie Madeleine
In the first Haitian film in R&A history, an unexpected friendship with a sex worker opens a pastor’s son’s eyes to a colourful world far from the judgemental gaze of God.
In the city of Jacmel, Haiti, two worlds collide as sex worker Marie befriends Joseph, who is the son of a pastor and new to the neighbourhood. Joseph’s father doesn’t approve of the friendship, his son’s blooming queer identity or his interest in a world where God and church don’t immediately punish you for fraternising with sinners.
The film leaves space for the viewer to get to know the colourful city of Jacmel, that seems both peaceful and lively at the same time, while being fractured by the clashes between Haitian Vodou and Christianity that was brought to Haiti by colonisers.
Towards the end of the film, director Géssica Généus quotes Nina Simone saying that freedom is living without fear, and this is precisely what Marie Madeleine is about. Marie and Joseph fight for freedom in an environment where the threat of violence is always present either concretely or as a promise of suffering in the afterlife. Joseph struggles to break free from the judgement of his father and the God he worships by following Marie, who seems to live freely on her own terms. But is Marie truly able to be free under the weight of the prejudice and judgement of the surrounding society?
Anna Jolma (translated by Johanna Järvinen)
Screenings
-
Kino Engel 1Fri 18.9. at 21.00–22.44104 min, 1/3
-
Kinopalatsi 1Tue 22.9. at 13.50–15.34104 min, 2/3
-
Kino Engel 1Thu 24.9. at 18.30–20.14104 min, 3/3