A dreamer killed by his own—decolonization's messy truth in 58 gut-punching minutes.
Through the commitment of Jean-Marie Tjibaou, this documentary traces the history of the march of the Kanak people in search of their independence. Between the raising of the Kanak flag in December 1984 and the funeral procession of the independence leader assassinated by one of his own on the island of Ouvéa in May 1989, there were years of struggles, dramas, palaver, hopes, of which Jean-Marie Tjibaou was one of the main actors. Will France be able to win the bet of a smooth decolonization of one of the last confetti of its empire? The authors meet the main protagonists of the "Tjibaou years", which were those of the Kanak people's dream of independence.
Direction
Lallaoui lets silence scream what words cannot.
Editing
1984 to 1989 compressed into devastating temporal whiplash.
Director
Medhi Lallaoui
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The Kanak flag raised in 1984 was designed by Tjibaou himself—blue for the sky, red for blood, green for the land, and the central 'flèche faitière' representing traditional chieftain authority. The documentary captures its first unfurling.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
FR
NC
