L'hypothèse du Mokélé-Mbembé

  • 78'
  • France
  • 2011
The Loch Ness monster, the abominable snowman, Bigfoot: they exist in myths, sagas and legends. Deep in the jungle in the south-east of Cameroon, the French zoologist and explorer Michel Ballot has for years been looking for proof of the existence of another such mythical being, the Mokele-Mbembe. It's like a rhinoceros with the tail of a crocodile and the head of a snake - at least that is how the pygmies describe this giant dinosaur, which apparently can even change its shape.
In this occasionally comic documentary essay, Ballot turns out to be a tenacious investigator, who cross-examines the local population keenly and wants to install cameras to capture the Mokele-Mbembe. The French filmmaker Marie Voignier follows him without commentary, adding mystery to her portrait.
Is the Mokele-Mbembe pure fiction, or does he perhaps really exist? Or is that question completely irrelevant and does the film show the confrontation between the empirically inclined Westerner and the pygmies, for whom tradition counts?

  • 78'
  • France
  • 2011
Director
Marie Voignier
Country of production
France
Year
2011
Festival Edition
IFFR 2012
Length
78'
Medium
Betacam Digi PAL
International title
The Mokele-Mbembe Hypothesis
Language
French
Producer
Thierry Lounas
Production Companies
Capricci Films, L'âge d'or
Sales
L'âge d'or
Screenplay
Marie Voignier
Cinematography
Marie Voignier
Editor
Marie Voignier
Sound Design
Thomas Fourel
Cast
Michel Ballot, Jean-Claude Bembo
Website
http://capricci.fr
Director
Marie Voignier
Country of production
France
Year
2011
Festival Edition
IFFR 2012
Length
78'
Medium
Betacam Digi PAL
International title
The Mokele-Mbembe Hypothesis
Language
French
Producer
Thierry Lounas
Production Companies
Capricci Films, L'âge d'or
Sales
L'âge d'or
Screenplay
Marie Voignier
Cinematography
Marie Voignier
Editor
Marie Voignier
Sound Design
Thomas Fourel
Cast
Michel Ballot, Jean-Claude Bembo
Website
http://capricci.fr