Cinémathèque idéale des banlieues du monde program offers a new perspective on the “banlieues” – the often forgotten and misrepresented suburbs of the world. With the aim of filling a political and artistic gap, this initiative highlights films that reveal the unique and diverse cinematic approaches often grouped under the term “suburb.” Through challenging, poetic, and politically charged works, the program showcases the aesthetic and narrative richness of this sector of cinema, which remains largely invisible to critics and institutions. This program was developed in partnership with the homonymous project cretad by filmmaker Alice Diop and supported by Ateliers Médicis and Centre Pompidou.
After the Sun (Rayane Mcirdi, France/Algeria, 2024)
Nov 26, 19:00, Batalha Centro de Cinema - Room 2
A nostalgic portrayal of a family in the 1980s that embarks on a road trip from France to Algeria. Through this journey back to their roots, the film explores the loss and rediscovery of homeland in an intimate and sensitive narrative.
Facing Darkness (Jean-Gabriel Périot, France/Switzerland/Bosnia-Herzegovina, 2023)
Nov 28, 17:00, Passos Manuel - Auditorium
A powerful account of the siege of Sarajevo, with archival footage and testimonies from filmmakers who documented the conflict. This film captures the impact of war and questions the possibility of healing after brutality.
The Splendids (Meryem-Bahia Arfaoui, France, 2021)
Nov 29, 14:45, Batalha Centro de Cinema - Room 2
A brief and incisive portrayal of young girls’ lives in a working-class neighborhood, capturing the complexities of growing up in a socially marked context. This session will include a masterclass with director Meryem-Bahia Arfaoui.
Love Still Exists (Maurice Pialat, France, 1960)
Nov 27, 17:15, Batalha Centro de Cinema - Room 2
A poetic and melancholic view of life in the Parisian suburbs, where the director’s voice opens a window into the reality of the people inhabiting these spaces.
They Killed Kader (Collectif Mohamed, France, 1980)
Nov 27, 17:15, Batalha Centro de Cinema - Room 2
A documentary that addresses the tragic death of a young man in a housing complex and the resistance of its residents to media sensationalism, reflecting on justice and collective memory.
Towards Tenderness (Alice Diop, France, 2015)
Nov 27, 17:15, Batalha Centro de Cinema - Room 2
Four young men from the Parisian suburbs speak about their masculinity and the social expectations imposed on them, in an intimate reflection on identity and affection.
The Voice of Others (Fatima Kaci, France, 2023)
Nov 26, 19:00, Batalha Centro de Cinema - Room 2
The story of Rim, a Tunisian interpreter who translates the stories of exiles in asylum processes, confronting her own questions of identity and belonging.
2720 (Basil da Cunha, Portugal/Switzerland, 2023)
Nov 26, 19:00, Batalha Centro de Cinema - Sala 2
A dive into the Reboleira neighborhood on the outskirts of Lisbon, where the lives and struggles of the local community are authentically revealed, an ode to resilience and the strength of the collective.
This program is an important step in highlighting and distributing narratives from marginalized regions, subverting stereotypes, and promoting the recognition of stories that often remain on the fringes of the screen. These films, which explore themes such as exile, war, memory, and identity, offer a rich and diverse perspective on life in the “world’s suburbs,” challenging audiences to look beyond the center and embrace the voices emerging from the peripheries.
