In the midst of the greatest civil uprising since the late 1960s — one thinks of the powerful Chris Marker political chronicle Le fond de l’air est rouge (1977) / Cat Without a Grin (re-edited 1988, 2001)— it was extremely a propos to receive email correspondence from Mr. Theodore A. Harris regarding an art project in his Thesentür series, inspired by Marker’s, Resnais’ and Ghislain Cloquet’s 1953 film Les Statues meurent aussi. The potent critique of art imperialism and Africa has only become available for viewing recently.
“This 30-minute short film has a chequered history of censorship that at one time elevated it to a somewhat mythical status, and which prevented it from being brought into the wider public eye until some 16 years after it was completed. After its first screening at the Cannes Film Festival in 1953, and in spite of winning the Prix Jean Vigo in 1954, Les Statues meurent aussi was banned in France by the Centre National de la Cinématographie between 1953 and 1963 owing to its controversial anti-colonialist stance. While a truncated version was made available in 1963, the unabridged film only became available in 1968.” [Senses of Cinema, Issue 52, Sept. 2009]
So without further ado, take it away Theodore A. Harris!
[Ed., chrismarker.org]
Thanks Daniel Your lay / design looks is great!
From Harvard Film Archive:
STATUES ALSO DIE (LES STATUES MEURENT AUSSI)
Directed by Chris Marker and Alain Resnais
France 1953, b/w, 30 min.
French Language Print
The collaborative film, banned for more than a decade by French censors as an attack on French colonialism (and now available only in shortened form), is a deeply felt study of African art and the decline it underwent as a result of it contact with Western civilization. Marker’s characteristically witty and thoughtful commentary is combined with images of a stark formal beauty in this passionate outcry against the fate of an art that was once integral to communal life but became debased as it fell victim to the demands of another culture.
Chris Marker fans may also be interested this site
Art Beyond Quarantine
https://artbeyondquarantine.blogspot.com/2020/06/
http://sensesofcinema.com/2009/cteq/les-statues-meurent-aussi/
Another useful & insightful article on Les Statues meurent aussi.