The feedback from the audience was astonishing, they praised a lot not only the visual quality but also the narrative form of the film.
The film “Lúcia in the Sky with Traffic Lights” by Ery Claver and Gretel Marin was shown during the 2019 Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in Auvergne, France.
Lucia, the object-being portrayed, the woman with no voice, with a distant gaze that suppresses cries and outbursts. Silenced by the sexist society that builds it without the right to be, think or give an opinion. The pair caught the mute report of a young “dispassionate”.
© ERY CLAVER
The work of Ery Claver (from Generation 80 film producers) and Gretel Marin was shown in the “African Perspectives” section, every day (from 1 to 9 February) during the festival.
Clermont-Ferrand has existed for 40 years and with each edition, brings together a significant number of film professionals, agencies and international organizations focused on short film and also has a wide audience of film enthusiasts.
After the return to Angola and with the “emotions alight”, we speak with film maker Ery Claver to know after all how his stay was, in one of the most important stages of the international film scene.
I.A – What was the feedback from the international film industry? And the public?
E.C – The invitation made by the Clermont festival was a huge surprise, I already knew the festival for its worldwide prominence in the short films, and because we did not even submit the film, they found me! What I saw in the event was precisely this, a very great interest in productions from Africa, it is not common the African presence in these events, Angola was the first participation, with the clear exception of the Francophone countries, which allowed me during the conferences in that I participated, besides showing my film, to be able to take stock of what is produced here in the country.
The feedback from the audience was astounding, praised a lot not only the visual quality but also the narrative form of the film.
© Gretel Marin
“What I noticed in the event was just that, a very big interest in productions coming from Africa, it is not common the African presence in these events, Angola was the first participation. When I wrote the character “Lucia”, from a poetic ballad, I tried to include in it innumerable true stories, even media reports, of women who in different ways experienced domestic abuses and social devaluation.
I.A – Where can the Angolan public see the full short film?
E.C – The film debuted at the 4th edition of the Fuckin ‘Globo collective exhibition in February last year and was also included in November in the exhibition “Bergman – Through Angolan Eyes” in tribute of the Swedish master. Since then, I have only been doing presentations at international festivals, highlighting VIDEOEX in Zurich.
I.A – The story depicts an Angolan “dispassionate” young woman. Can we consider it a “wake-up call” to the social situation of many young women? What’s behind it?
E.C – The term “dispassionate”, although it makes sense, seems to me reductive. When I wrote the character “Lucia”, from a poetic ballad, I tried to include in it innumerable true stories, even media reports, of women who in different ways experienced domestic abuses and social devaluation. So we see in the film, an ambiguous woman, between the silence and the inner rage, represented in fragmented scenes and supported by texts that try to guess her state of mind.
Without forgetting to mention Maura Ribeiro, who gave life to Lucia and who acted brilliantly, even being her first experience. To Gretel who collaborated with me in directing, to João Ana and to Toy Boy, usual partners in my films.
