In 2006, Nobel-Prize-winning African American author Toni Morrison curated the exhibition The Foreigner’s Home in the Louvre. Ten years later, this collection of art – ranging from the classical painting The Raft of the Medusa by Théodore Géricault and choreography by William Forsythe to performances by local slam poets – has lost none of its relevance. This documentary brings Morrison’s work and vision together as expressed in the exhibition. Archive footage related to the exhibition, Morrison’s speech, performances and interviews with artists are intercut with excerpts from a more recent interview, conducted by writer Edwidge Danticat with Morrison at her home, on historical images, photos and music illustrating her ideas concerning slavery, ‘race’, identity and what it means to be a ‘foreigner’. But above all on the power of art to re-present the human and give us a sense of home. Along the way, simply drawn animations show how Medusa’s raft looks these days.
Film details
Countries of production
France, USA
Year
2018
Festival edition
IFFR 2018
Length
57'
Medium/Format
DCP
Language
English, French
Premiere status
World premiere
Director
Rian Brown, Geoff Pingree
Producer
Rian Brown, Geoff Pingree, Jonathan Demme, Ford Morrison
Sales / World rights holder
Rian Brown
Screenplay
Geoff Pingree, Based on writings by Toni Morrison
Cinematography
Ford Morrison, Rian Brown, Geoff Pingree, Drew Dickler, Jacob Hochendoner, Kervin Marseille
Editing
Rian Brown, Geoff Pingree, Yari Wolinsky
Production company
Ice Lens Pictures, Ford Morrison Studios, Clinica Estetico