HOSTAGE(S) (OTAGE(S))

Melville  Theatre | Sep 24 – 9:00 am | Sep 25 – 11:00 am
Sep 26 – 1:05 pm  | Sept 27 – 3:10 pm |  Sept 28 – 5:25 pm

International Premiere | France | 2019 | Documentary| 90 min | In French with English subtitles

Directed by: Michel Peyrard, Damien Vercaemer
Written by: Michel Peyrard
Cinematography: Damien Vercaemer
Film Editing: Seamus Haley
Original Score: Mondkopf
Produced by: Victor Robert (10.7 Production)
International Sales: Newen Distribution
Original Broadcast: Canal+, February 2019

Seven hostages — two Colombians, a Frenchman, an American, an Italian and an Austrian couple. Four men and three women. One day, while going about their business, they were each kidnapped — for no apparent reason. By the FARC, al-Qaeda, Al-Nusra, and the Taliban. They were held prisoner in Syria, Colombia, Afghanistan, Algeria and Yemen, some for several months, others for up to nine years. In six separate interviews with celebrated journalist Michel Peyrard, we relive those extraordinary experiences with them. The shock, the desolation, the physical and emotional trauma, and the conflicting feelings that besieged them on their return home. Each hostage has a very unique tale to tell in this riveting, visually breathtaking documentary feature.

Director Michel Peyrard began his career as a freelance journalist for Libération and Le Matin magazine, before joining the staff of Paris Match in 1982. As a reporter, he’s covered numerous conflicts, including the collapse of the Soviet bloc and the Gulf War. He was awarded the Louis Hachette Prize for his coverage of the Russian bombing of Chechnya in 1999, and has directed numerous television and documentary reports for Special Envoy, France 2 and Canal+. On October 9, 2001, one day after the first American strikes on Afghanistan, Peyrard was arrested by the Taliban, while attempting to reach Kabul. He was held prisoner and sentenced to death for spying. Twenty-six days later, he was pardoned and released by Mullah Omar, the mujahideen commander and founder of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Presented in association with:

Newen Distribution