In the Land of the Deaf
Encyclopedia
In the Land of the Deaf is the English title of a French documentary (Le Pays des sourds) created and produced by Nicolas Philibert in 1992. The film is presented French Sign Language
(FSL
) and French, with English subtitles and closed captions. Philibert's uses sparse dialogue in creating an unsentimental, non-manipulative work which allows its subjects to communicate their feelings about the richness of life despite hearing problems.
Prior to its initial theatrical release, this excursion into the unique world of Deaf communities in France was featured in international film festivals.
In its subsequent broadcast debut in the United States, the film was honored with a Peabody Award
for excellence.
and language in France. Its overview encompasses a broad range of perspectives, costrasting the stories of a family who has been deaf and thriving for five generations with the story of a woman whose deafness was misunderstood, causing her to be confined for a time in an asylum for the insane. The documentary features hearing-impaired people of all ages and from all walks of life. With their profound deafness in common, the children and adults featured in this film communicate their dreams and thoughts through sign language. In one segment, Philibert focuses his camera on group of schoolchildren who are learning how to communicate in a world where they must read lips and speak words. The personal lives of some of the pupils and various adults are explored, including an actor, a sign-language teacher, and an engaged couple.
French Sign Language
French Sign Language is the sign language of the deaf in the nation of France. According to Ethnologue, it has 50,000 to 100,000 native signers....
(FSL
French Sign Language
French Sign Language is the sign language of the deaf in the nation of France. According to Ethnologue, it has 50,000 to 100,000 native signers....
) and French, with English subtitles and closed captions. Philibert's uses sparse dialogue in creating an unsentimental, non-manipulative work which allows its subjects to communicate their feelings about the richness of life despite hearing problems.
Prior to its initial theatrical release, this excursion into the unique world of Deaf communities in France was featured in international film festivals.
In its subsequent broadcast debut in the United States, the film was honored with a Peabody Award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
for excellence.
Synopsis
This film focuses on the interrelationships between Deaf cultureDeaf culture
Deaf culture describes the social beliefs, behaviors, art, literary traditions, history, values and shared institutions of communities that are affected by deafness and which use sign languages as the main means of communication. When used as a cultural label, the word deaf is often written with a...
and language in France. Its overview encompasses a broad range of perspectives, costrasting the stories of a family who has been deaf and thriving for five generations with the story of a woman whose deafness was misunderstood, causing her to be confined for a time in an asylum for the insane. The documentary features hearing-impaired people of all ages and from all walks of life. With their profound deafness in common, the children and adults featured in this film communicate their dreams and thoughts through sign language. In one segment, Philibert focuses his camera on group of schoolchildren who are learning how to communicate in a world where they must read lips and speak words. The personal lives of some of the pupils and various adults are explored, including an actor, a sign-language teacher, and an engaged couple.
Co-production
This documentary was co-produced by multinational partners, which reduced the financial risks inherent in the project; and co-production also ensured enhanced distribution opportunities.- Les Films d’Ici.
- La Sept-cinémaLa SeptLa Sept was a French television broadcaster and production company created on 23 February 1986 to develop cultural and educational programming for transmission via the TDF 1 satellite...
. - Rhône-Alpes European Cinematographic Centre.
- Canal +.
- Rhône-Alpes régionRhône-AlpesRhône-Alpes is one of the 27 regions of France, located on the eastern border of the country, towards the south. The region was named after the Rhône River and the Alps mountain range. Its capital, Lyon, is the second-largest metropolitan area in France after Paris...
. - Centre National de la CinématographieCentre National de la CinématographieLe Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée or CNC is a French agency of the Ministry of Culture, responsible for the production and promotion of cinematic and audiovisual arts in France, is a publicly owned establishment, with legal and financial autonomy.Created by law on 25 October 1946...
.
- Fondation de FranceFondation de FranceThe Foundation de France is an independent administrative agency which was established by the French government in an effort to stimulate and foster the growth of private philanthropy and private foundations in France.-History:...
. - Ministry of Foreign Affairs (France).
- Rai TreRai TreRai 3 is part of RAI, the Italian government broadcasting agency, which owns other channels, such as Rai 1 and Rai 2 . Rai 3 first started transmissions on December 15, 1979. In the eighties it was under the predominant political influence of the Italian Communist Party...
. - BBC TelevisionBBC TelevisionBBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
. - Télévision Suisse RomandeTélévision Suisse RomandeTélévision Suisse Romande is a TV network with 2 channels: TSR 1 and TSR 2. They are the main French language channels in Switzerland, part of SRG SSR idée suisse...
.
Film festivals and honors
This small film has attracted an appreciative international audience. The quotidian life of the deaf as presented by Philibert is distinguished by an unsentimental compassion and an affirmation of the serendipitous.- Locarno International Film FestivalLocarno International Film FestivalThe Film Festival Locarno is an international film festival held annually in the city of Locarno, Switzerland since 1946. After Cannes and Venice and together with Karlovy Vary, Locarno is the Film Festival with the longest history...
(Switzerland), official selection, 1992. - Yamagata International Documentary Film FestivalYamagata International Documentary Film FestivalThe Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival is a documentary film festival held biennially in Yamagata, Japan.It was first held in October 1989, which makes it one of the longest running documentary film festivals in the world and the most distinguished such festival in Asia...
(Japan), official selection, 1993. - Cannes Film FestivalCannes Film FestivalThe Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
(France), Prix de la Fondation GAN pour le CinémaUn Certain RegardUn Certain Regard is a section of the Cannes Film Festival's Official Selection. It is run at the Salle Debussy, parallel to the competition for the Palme d'Or.This section was introduced in 1978 by Gilles Jacob...
, 1992. - Belfort Film Festival (France), Grand Prize, 1992.
- Festival dei Popoli (Italy), Grand Prize, 1992.
- Vancouver International Film FestivalVancouver International Film FestivalThe Vancouver International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for two weeks in late September and early October...
(Canada), Grand Prize, 1993. - Valladolid International Film FestivalSeminciValladolid International Film Festival is a film festival held annually in Valladolid, Spain since 1956....
(Spain), Special Jury Prize (Prix «Tiempo de Historia»), 1993. - Mumbai International Film FestivalMumbai International Film FestivalMumbai International Film Festival for Documentary, Short and Animation Films , is a festival organised in the city of Mumbai by the 'Film Division', Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India. It has been organised since 1990, and focuses on documentary, short and animation...
(India), Grand Prize, 1994. - San Francisco International Film FestivalSan Francisco International Film FestivalSan Francisco International Film Festival is the oldest continuously running film festival in the Americas. Organized by the San Francisco Film Society, the International is held each spring for two weeks, presenting an average of 150 films from over 50 countries...
(USA), Golden Gate AwardGolden Gate AwardGolden Gate Award may refer to:* A film award at the San Francisco International Film Festival* An award part of the GLAAD Media Awards...
, 1994. - Potsdam International Film Festival (Germany), Best Documentary, 1994.
- Communication Awards (USA), Stephanie Beacham Award, 1994.
- Peabody AwardPeabody AwardThe George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
(USA), 1997.
External links
- DailyMotion.en: Le pays des sourds -- video clip, 01:23 mins.
- Le pays des sourds at Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- In the Land of the Deaf at Rotten TomatoesRotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
- Nicolas Philibert website