CARTOONISTS, FOOT SOLDIERS OF DEMOCRACY / Caricaturistes, fantassins de la démocratie

 

Los Angeles Premiere • Documentary • France, 2014

DCP • 1.85 • Dolby 5.1 • Color • 106 min

Directed by: Stéphanie Valloatto

Written by: Radu Mihaileanu, Stéphanie Valloatto

Cinematography: Cyrille Blanc

Film Editing: Marie-Jo Audiard

Original Score: Armand Amar

Produced by: Radu Mihaileanu (Oï Oï Oï Productions), Cyrille Blanc (Cinextra Productions)

Cast: Plantu, Boligan, Boukhari, Danziger 

International Sales: Kinology

 

In the hunt for this year’s Best Documentary César, this film crosses the globe exploring the surprising importance political cartoons have in the defense of democracy. This timely look at the personal stories of twelve endearing and eccentric satirists from countries as far flung as Russia, China, the United States, Palestine and Burkina Faso clearly illustrates that for some world leaders humor is no laughing matter. At the center of this comedic cabal is Le Monde newspaper cartoonist Plantu, who tellingly reveals that even in a country like France, he receives direct calls from the president whenever he disapproves of the day’s offering. Censored, marginalized, in some cases imprisoned or worse, many of these artists pay a steep price for daring to draw attention to the foibles of power.

 

With a background in law and political science, writer/director Stéphanie Valloatto has written and directed many television documentaries focusing on humanist themes. On the strength of her mid-length documentary portrait of journalist, filmmaker and media kingpin Philippe Labro, Between Shadow and Light (2011), Valloatto was asked by co-writer and producer Radu Mihaileanu to direct Cartoonists, Foot Soldiers of Democracy. The film, her first feature, was taken in Official Selection in Cannes 2014. Unusually, the film’s production was supported by the Media Department of the UN. Although completed before the Charlie Hebdo attack, it aired as a special broadcast event on French television shortly thereafter.

 

Quotes:

“Manages to synthesize a vast subject in ways both insightful and, at times, frightfully funny.”

- Boyd van Hoeij HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

 “The results are a bit like a trip around the world -- you can’t really complain about the tour, which is after all highly interesting and informative.”

- Tom Christie Thompson on Hollywood