Les enfants d'Isadora

  • 84'
  • France
  • 2019

Renowned American dancer and choreographer Isadora Duncan not only became famous for her groundbreaking work, but also for the tragic deaths of her two children in 1913. She processed her grief in the choreography Mother about loss and emptiness.

Director and dancer Damien Manivel follows four women in their attempts to understand and bring this choreography to life: young, beautiful dancer Agathe Bonitzer, choreographer Marika Rizzi and her pupil Manon Carpentier who has Down syndrome, and retired choreographer Elsa Wolliaston, who played the lead in Manivel's short film The Lady with the Dog.

The women are patiently, lovingly followed during their sometimes frustrating, moving search for the essence of dance, whereby they are confronted with the loss and grief in their own lives. Manivel's film won the prize for best director at the Locarno film festival.

Director
Damien Manivel
Country of production
France
Year
2019
Festival Edition
IFFR 2020
Length
84'
Medium
DCP
International title
Isadora's Children
Language
French
Producers
Martin Bertier, Damien Manivel
Production Company
MLD Films
Sales
Shellac
Screenplay
Damien Manivel, Julien Dieudonné
Cinematography
Noé Bach
Editor
Dounia Sichov
Sound Design
Jérôme Petit, Simon Apostolou
Cast
Agathe Bonitzer, Manon Carpentier, Marika Rizzi, Elsa Wolliaston
Director
Damien Manivel
Country of production
France
Year
2019
Festival Edition
IFFR 2020
Length
84'
Medium
DCP
International title
Isadora's Children
Language
French
Producers
Martin Bertier, Damien Manivel
Production Company
MLD Films
Sales
Shellac
Screenplay
Damien Manivel, Julien Dieudonné
Cinematography
Noé Bach
Editor
Dounia Sichov
Sound Design
Jérôme Petit, Simon Apostolou
Cast
Agathe Bonitzer, Manon Carpentier, Marika Rizzi, Elsa Wolliaston