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Ébullition
Film made behind bars
Produced and directed at the Santé prison in Paris, Ébullition was presented at the Cannes festival in 2009 as part of the programming by Acid (Association of independent cinema for its distribution). Co-directed by Anne Toussaint (founding member of the organization Les Yeux de l’ouïe) and Khalid Saadi, it is the third part of a four-part film Fragments d’une rencontre (Fragments of a meeting). At the Santé prison, Anne Toussaint runs the En quête d’autres regards (Seeking other gazes) workshop. For two years, she took Sciences Po [prestigious Paris political science institute] students to meet prisoners. While producing a film, these two worlds who were not destined to meet tried to find a common language. Ébullition is the mise en abîme of the film Sirine, completed within the walls by Khalid Saadi. In the style of a documentary, “Ébullition” films the genesis, his questionings, silences and lack of understanding concerning the metaphorical power of an image – how to render the feeling of oppression on screen? Film boiling water. But in what container? A pressure cooker? “There are no safety valves in prison”, Khalid Saadi replied to the Sciences Po students. By comparing what prisoners and France’s future elite have to say, Anne Toussaint compares two points of view that lead to a debate on the issue of the legitimacy of prison sentences. Another film begins…
