The Visions du Réel Festival starts today in Nyon and we have two pairs of tickets up for grabs for film screenings for readers of this site. Just email cnp at bluewin.ch with your name and telephone number by 22:00 on Friday 20th April. Names will go into a hat and 2 lucky winners will be informed on Saturday a. m 21st April. Every year, Living in Nyon writers review a selection of films on the festival programme and today we begin with the first review of the film "Virgin Tales" by Suzy Nelson-Pollard. Suzy is currently a student of International Relations at the University of Geneva. Read her first review below. "Virgin Tales", directed by Mirjam Von Arx, to be shown on Saturday at 17:00 (Théâtre de Marens) and Sunday at 10:00 (Salle Communale) is a Swiss made documentary about a family of evangelical Christians in Colorado. The Wilson family, who have seven home-schooled children, are vocal and influential within the local community, spreading the message of purity. So vocal indeed that for around a decade they have organised annual purity balls for the daughters and fathers of the community, a chance for both to pledge to protect and guard the daughters’ virginity until their wedding days. Religious middle America is an easy bandwagon for a European filmmaker to jump on. To many moderate Europeans, scenes of the tea party movement or politics entwined with religious rhetoric provoke incredulous disbelief, or even just plain mocking. But this is no sensationalist, hate-mongering portrayal of those “crazy Americans over the ocean”, the merit of this film comes from the family itself. The Wilsons are generally likeable, (perhaps with exception to the father, a tad creepily overzealous when talking about the responsibility to protect his daughter’s purity), the children are loving, caring, incisive, mature and extremely intelligent. "Purity brings joy" The focus is on the third daughter Jordan, a beautiful, poised and extremely bright 20 year old, waiting to follow her older sister’s footsteps in to marriage. Jordan is clearly full of contradictions. She speaks confidently about how “purity brings joy”, but looks positively bored to tears waiting for her “wonderful husband to arrive” and to move her in to the next chapter of her life. She talks about how she looks forward to being a mother and a wife most of all, and asks “why would I spend thousands of dollars on an education that I’m not going to use?”. As time goes by however and the wait gets longer, she starts a course in etiquette for young ladies, which by the end of the documentary blossoms, proving that she has quite the talent for business that an education may have boosted. One of the most interesting things about the community that was highlighted in the film was the use of symbolism to encourage purity in teenager years. Young daughters wear long white dresses to the purity balls and dance around a cross. Sons have coming of age or manhood ceremonies in which they are presented with a sword and even armour, so that they can fight their enemies (such as inappropriate thoughts and desires). A scene at the purity ball shows a father slipping a ring on his daughter’s engagement finger, telling her that the ring was a symbol of purity, and that she would never regret saving herself for her wedding day. The young girl looked about twelve years old, and one cant help but wonder if there would be a moment in her life when she wasn’t under the “protection” of a man, be it her father or husband. Although it's a subject that has been documented many times, this film offers an interesting and balanced insight in to not only the politics and ceremonies, but the thoughts and emotions of one of America’s most important religious groups today. For ticket sales, programming and all information on the film documentary festival click here for website (in English)

Photo above - crowd at Paléo 2011. There was a mad rush for Palèo tickets when they went on sale yesterday at midday and festival organisers announced that it took just 5.5 hours for all tickets to be sold-out. Concerts for the Sunday sold-out in 14 minutes, those for Thursday, Friday and Saturday in less than 45 minutes, and those for the Tuesday and Wednesday by 17:30. Missed out on tickets? Two other opportunities If you missed out yesterday there are two new opportunities to get tickets, the first is the traditional "bourse aux billets" . This platform will be begin on the Paléo site on 9 May at midday on and makes it possible for anybody to sell and/or buy tickets at a fair price and safely in an effort to fight against the black market. The second opportunity is that 1,500 tickets will be on sale each morning of the festival at 09:00 for the same night and through Ticketcorner outlets (no phone orders). No tickets will be sold on site. Check out Paléo for dull details.

Photo above: New sculptures outside Nyon chateau as part of the Visarte Vaud initative There is a new Nyon council leaflet which has been published for its residents and distributed around the town. The leaflet is a handy reference to many of the free local events coming up in the area until the end of September. For example, on the 29th May it's the "Fête des Voisins" (Neighbours' Day) in Nyon. On the 2nd June, it's "Journée du vélo" (Bike Day). This day is an opportunity to take part in lots of biking activities around the town and to buy or sell a second hand bike. On the 2-3 June its the Fête de L'Interculturelle and looking ahead to the 8th September, on that day it's the "Journées du Patrimoine" when all the museums in the area offer free entry with guided visits. Scottish Country Dance in Nyon! A more recent event coming up in the town (this is not a council event) will be a Scottish Ceilidh - a Scottish Country Dance complete with Scottish live band on the night for a fun night of some Scottish country dancing! This event is organised by La Côte Anglican Church. Full details below. La Côte Spring Fling! Enjoy traditional Scottish dancing, with the well-known Loch Léman Ceilidh Band and caller – no previous experience necessary! Sat. 12 May, 18.30-23.00, at the Salle Communale, Place Perdtemps, Nyon. Food & drink available. Entrance: CHF 20, under 16: CHF 5 Click on the link here to buy and print your tickets online. Further enquiries Tel. +41799591698

Photo above and below from "A Home Far Away" - courtesy Visions du Réel The second review on this site of a film to be shown at Visions du Réel 2012, has been written by Trish Thalman. Trish is originally from California and lives in Gland and has been reviewing films for this site for the previous two years. Read her personal footnote to the film at the end of this review and see a trailer of the film. "A Home Far Away" directed by Peter Entell. Screening Sunday 16:30 at the Salle Communale, and Monday at 12:15 at the Capitole 1 Cinema. Note: Tickets can now be bought in advance for each screening via the Visions du Réel website or at the central box office in Rue des Marchandises near the Salle Communale. The opening scene of this compelling, historical and bittersweet film shows a large bulldozer on a cold winter day in Switzerland, taking a bite out of the roof of the former home of Edgar Snow, his wife Lois Wheeler Snow and their family, now empty and without purpose. It is a strong visual metaphor for the unfolding story. We will see the house razed to the ground during the documentary. Life changes things. The film gives us the first person, face-to-face account from Lois Wheeler Snow, still a strong minded and proud, articulate woman at age 90. We learn of the exciting, happy life she shared with Edgar from their early courtship in the 40’s, when she was a Broadway and Hollywood actress, and Edgar was a world acclaimed journalist, right up until last year when the film was made. Edgar’s seminal work, ‘Red Star over China’ in 1937, introduced Mao Zedong and the Chinese Cultural Revolution to the world, and made him famous and controversial at the same time. Eventually they would marry and have two children. Lois would continue acting, and then move into TV in the 50’s. She would find herself ‘blacklisted’, unable to get work, because of the McCarthy Era and the House Un-American Activities Investigations related to people, particularly writers and actors, who were identified as having Communist ‘sympathies’. The Snows left the US and moved to the Lake Geneva Region in ’59. Their intention was to be in Europe for one year and then return to the US. The Swiss welcomed the family and acknowledged Edgar’s prestige in China and around the world. Lois admits that she had a nice life in Switzerland, and did not miss the theatre, “until later”. She felt lost and isolated, as nobody in Switzerland knew her or of her theatrical career. She looses her US theatre contacts. She wants her old life back. The Snow family never return to America. They remain ‘transplanted’ in Switzerland. Lois goes to China for the first time with Edgar in 1970. His previous visit to China was in 1960. She is pleasantly surprised at what she sees in China, and warms to the very special welcome they receive from Mao. But, Edgar feels puzzled and deceived; the Revolution is not making changes he expected to see. Truth is vague. It is Edgar’s last visit to China. He is ill and will die 2 years later. We are given insight to the scrapbook of Lois’ life with Edgar, along with her belief and support of the Cultural Revolution, and then life without Edgar. After the ’89 Tiananmen Square Massacre, Lois goes to Beijing, stands-up to and opposes the Chinese saying “you are wrong”. There are wonderful, warm personal film-clips, photos, and memorabilia along with Lois’ wistful comments to the camera about life in the US, Switzerland and China, and the impact of Edgar’s China association in their lives. She has to make decisions about what to throw away in the house, and from her life, before the demolition gang arrive. She will be moving on. Her life story continues, but without items from her previous life. The memories remain. As the house comes down, there is sadness, yet acceptance of her life now, and what once was: beliefs and ideals, hopes and dreams. Everything changes. There is loss. Lois comments to the live camera “the past becomes the past”. She has changed. China has changed. Trish's personal footnote to the film "The closing shot of Lois in new flat shows the framed poster that appears behind her in old family film footage. I had that poster too. It got wrecked. It says: " War is not healthy for children and other living things". We (my generation) all had that poster and 'quoted' it quite often". See U tube trailer of film here

Photo above outside Angelika Chollet, the stylish gift and home accessory shop on Nyon's Rive. The posters and signs are now up around Nyon for Visions du Réel. This is an international documentary film festival which opens on the 20th April and runs through until the 27th, and is a major event in the Nyon calendar. Not only does the festival bring representatives from TV stations from all over the globe to watch, choose and buy films for their viewers, but it is an important event for documentary film makers too. Films shown at the festival cross many categories. They range from those made by first time film makers to films from seasoned directors. Many of these films are entries in to competition at Visions du Réel and prizes are awarded in various categories on the final night of the festival. This year Visions du Reel will screen a selection of the prize winning films on Sunday the 28th April in the Salle Communale for those who missed out during the previous week! Also new this year, the festival will be collaborating with Elastique Citrique, the circus school (next to the bar of the festival) to provide entertainment for the public. As red is the identifying colour for both the circus school and the festival, this colour will also reflected in the shop windows around Nyon during the week of the festival. Photo above: Luciano Barisone (sourtesy Visions du Réel -Miguel Bueno) Luciano Barisone, festival director told Living in Nyon that there are plenty of films on the agenda this year for the anglophone public. One particular film on this list "A Home Far Away" has been made by Peter Entell, an American film maker who lives in the Nyon area. The film synopsis reads: "Lois, an American actress, and her husband, Edgar Snow, the first journalist to have reported and filmed the Chinese revolution, are suspected of Communist sympathies and forced into exile. They end up in Switzerland, near Nyon, half way between the US and China. Long after, when Edgar has passed on, Lois tells all. A story of utopia and disillusionment takes shape before the camera". Photo: courtesy Visions du Réel We will be reporting on this and reviewing films throughout the festival. The full programme catalogue is now available in print form with a full listing of the films and you can pick a copy up at various outlets: Nyon tourist office, the cinema etc. The full programme is also available on line here and in English. Tickets are now on sale through the site and through Star Ticket. Full details here La Roulotte opens on the 15th! Spring is here which means the opening of La Roulotte! This temporary summer café created out of an old railway carriage and positioned behind Nyon station, has become a popular fixture over the last two summers for both commuters and locals alike, for breakfast, lunch or an after work drink. The café reopens on the 15th April at 16:00. See site here

Photo above: Courtesy ©Les Hivernales 2012 / Niall Macpherson) of The Bianca Story, performing at the club. The barefoot writer is back! Regular readers of Living in Nyon may remember the great reviews of both the atmosphere and the music from Paléo 2010 written by Jonas Parson (a.k.a "the barefoot writer"). Last year Jonas went travelling to Australia and to India and for the first time in his life he missed Paléo! However he has now returned to Switzerland and we are happy to report he will be writing for this site again during this year's Paléo and on other music events that are happening around the Nyon region. Jonas is now studying philosophy and French literature at the University of Lausanne, and says he spends his time reading a lot, practising at the Nyon circus school, and hanging out at the university student pub. He also says - "I'm happy Spring is back as it means I can put my shoes away and happily tread the barefoot path of freedom". Jonas has written an article below called; "In between the brackets - a night out at the "Parenthèse", on the small but influential music club in the heart of Nyon. Read on to find out more about the concerts at this venue, the club's music policy and how it is now acquiring a reputation for attracting new and exciting new bands from all over the world. In between the brackets - A night out at the Parenthèse- Jonas Parson Strolling along the Grand-Rue in Nyon, you've probably already gone past the Parenthèse, just opposite the charming cobble-stoned Place du Marché, maybe without even knowing it was there. Photo above C. Nelson- Pollard - The venue (enter the tunnel here in Grand Rue next to the music shop to find the Parenthése) Venturing down a small tunnel dating back – according to the stone carving above the entrance- to the 17 th century, you find yourself in front of the entrance to this small bar dedicated to promoting live music in the area. Plunge down a flight of stairs, and you'll find yourself in what used to be a wine cellar; this is no place for the claustrophobic! The slightly cramped feeling is actually one the charms of the place, making it a small and cosy venue: narrow and long, the bar at one end, the stage at the other, and a dozen tables along both walls. The club entrance - Photo ©Les Hivernales 2012 / Niall Macpherson A little bit of history of the club The Parenthèse opened in 2008 with the idea of promoting music -rock in particular, but also widening the range to other styles in Nyon. Concentrating mainly on local bands at first, the team at the Parenthèse gradually developed a network throughout the region and started hosting bands from farther afield. The walls of the Parenthèse were soon reverberating to the tunes of bands from as far away as the United States, or from slightly more exotic places like Estonia with Ewert and the Two Dragons , who'll be 'folking' around on the 27 th of April. See Utube video of their recent hit "Good Man Down". Promoting and sharing music - The Parenthèse philosophy. Not satisfied with being just a bar that stages live gigs at the weekend, the Parenthèse has a philosophy of promoting and sharing music, an approach that sometimes seems to be becoming all too rare in the world of contemporary show-business. Photo ©Les Hivernales 2012 / Niall Macpherson Their contacts and the reputation they've built means that this modest venue is hot on the heels of the ultra-professional rendezvous like the Eurosonics in the Netherlands, an annual and much vaunted conference/showcase between programmers and bands. In fact about a dozen bands who played at the Parenthèse last year went on to play at Paleo Festival the same year, with some bands also playing at the Montreux Jazz Festival or the Printemps de Bourges. The pay check is symbolic This is what the Parenthèse has to offer to bands who come to play in Nyon, as the pay check is more symbolic than anything else in a bar where entrance is free. “ We basically provide board and lodging, pay for them to come to Nyon and for a sound engineer. But they won't get paid much else. On the other hand, the interesting part for the band is that we'll be able to put them in touch with clubs and festivals” explains Benjamin Zumstein, one of the founders of the Parenthèse and in charge of the venue's music programme. “ We all eat together before the gig, and it's a great way to share stuff and meet people. Band members also get free access to the bar all evening, which is something that you don't see much any more”. The Parenthèse is organised along voluntary lines (the association“La Parenthèse culturelle” was created last year), and membership fees cover the expenses related to hosting, feeding and producing the bands at the venue. It is just CHF 50chf become a member of the association, note: you don't have to be a member to go to the club or see a band. “We reckoned this was the best way to keep the spirit of sharing alive. It also means the bar itself, which is a limited company, can try and cover the bar expenses quite independently. As entrance is free, we're not actually making any money for the time being, so the idea is to try and limit the losses. The bar is open five nights a week, which means we need to pay a full time bar-tender, and there aren't that many people popping in for a drink during the week. So after the summer break this year (well yeah, it's the festival season, and people would rather go and have a drink outdoors than in a cellar!), the bar will only open from Thursday to Saturday.” Attracting a varied public The club attracts a varied public, ranging from teenage music fans to older people happy to come for a drink in a place where they know they'll discover new music and a truly eclectic line-up, the Parenthèse is a fine place to go and chill out, have a drink and discover some very cool music. La Parenthèse, Grand-Rue 22bis, Nyon. Here's a latest list of the complete line-up of bands playing up to the summer break or see site here March 29 – No Mad (F) 31 – Se3en (CH) April 5 - Teletextiles (USA) 6 – Chloé Mons (F) 7 – Sound of Guns (UK) 13 – Jerrycan (CH) 14 - CATS ON TREES (F) 18 – The Travelling Band (UK) 19 – Maia Vidal (ESP) 20 – Joan and the Sailors (CH) 25 – Peasant (USA) 26 – Will Samson (UK) 27 – Ewert and the Two Dragons (EE) May 5 – Appletop (F) 17 – Kandle (CAN) 19 – The Deers (CH) 25 – Fog Horn (USA) Concerts are free, and usually take place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. The bar can be rented out this summer for private parties, the money will help continue bringing bands to Nyon and keeping the concerts free. Photo above: Photo ©Les Hivernales 2012 / Niall Macpherson. The group "Owwle" at the Parenthèse.

It's the annual chocolate festival in Versoix this Saturday 24 and also on Sunday 25 March. This festival is hosts to lots of chocolate makers and open for the public to try out, and buy all sorts of chocolate. There are workshops for children, there's an egg hunt on Sunday, a choco train, and lots more. This festival is a great day out for families and for chocolate lovers. Open 09:00 to 18:00 both Saturday and Sunday. Note: this is a popular event and parking can be tricky, so best take public transport to attend the event. The 23 minutes past the hour train from Nyon (change at Coppet) only takes 17 minutes to arrive in Versoix, and the festival is next to the station. The 33 mins past the hour train takes longer as you need to change in Geneva to get to Versoix. Details of festival here The opera "Nabucco" by Giuseppe Verdi will be performed by a professional opera company from Poland in Nyon on the 6th July. This will take place in the magnificent setting of the grounds of the place du chateau in Nyon. The prisoners chorus in the open air! Tickets via Starticket or at Manor, the post office, and at the CFF train station. Hear more about this production from Olivier Mayor (the municipal in charge of culture for Nyon), in a news item on Nyon Regional TV in this short video below. Vues sur l'Actu du 20 mars 2012par nyonregiontv

Photo above: Caribana 2012 logo reflected in the merchandising. Caribana Festival revealed its full 2012 music programme today March 28 with, (according to Pascal Vuistiner, press officer for the festival) "an explosive cocktail of music". This cocktail includes a mix for all music lovers, from the calm acoustic sound of Lucy Rose from the UK playing on the beach stage on the Thursday evening, to the electro pop of Marina and the Diamonds to the punk rock of the Dropkick Murphys on the main stage the same night. There's Ska on offer from the Specials, Reggae from Stephen Marley, Alternative/ Samba from Lail Arad and the big attraction for many - Lou Reed playing on Friday night. Follow our Tweets! Living in Nyon also tweeted the news of line up of some of the bands the same morning. Are you following the Living in Nyon tweets? Take a look at the bottom of this site for the tweets imparted by Julius Caesar, Roman emperor, founder of Nyon (and now Tweeter). Utube video of Marina and The Diamonds (she will be supporting Coldplay on some of their European and U.S dates). There's Rock and Roll/ Soul music from the band Vintage trouble, Rap from Grand Corps Malade and alternative rock electro from 2 manydjs (DJ set) on the Saturday night. Below: U tube video of R&B/Soul/ Rock and Roll Band Vintage Trouble from Los Angeles U.S.A There's lots more on offer and as usual on the Sunday of the festival is the day for families and children with Caribana kids (more on this to follow). Below: Jérome Haldemann, designer of the 2012 Caribana poster next to his original artwork . Jerome says "I chose the monkey as it injected a sense of humour to the poster, and I chose the colours as they reflect the fun and dynamic nature of such a festival". Jerome's entry to the competition to design a poster for the festival was among 16 received by a class of apprentices from ERACOM, (the college for apprentice graphic designers in Lausanne). "The great thing about this project was that it was purely my own work, when you work with clients in graphic design it can often be a collaborative effort and you don't necessarily get to work on the project right through to the end, but with this one I did, and am very proud it was chosen for such a great festival". Note: Caribana tickets are now on sale and although they don't tend to sell out as fast as Paléo tickets, don't wait too long to buy them! You can read all about the previous Caribana and other music festivals here on Living in Nyon, just click on the top bar "film and music festivals".

Here is the second film review from Trish Thalman on the film "No Estoy Muerto Solo Estoy Dormido" (I’m not dead, only asleep) directed by J.S Lopez Maas. She says "this is an interesting insight into the Afro-Peruvians living in Peru and I encourage people to go and see it. It's delightful with beautiful photography, wonderful people and opens a new perspective on the cultural history of Peru. Ths film will be shown again at the Capitole Cinema at 18:00 on Monday 23rd April. Full details see Visions du Réel site Donkeys and Afro-Peruvian music, both are the soul and spirit of the multi-faceted elements in the history and culture of Peru. Expansive, sunny vistas of the beige, arid plains of Peru, tame donkeys trailing the rope from their harness in the sands and the pulsing beat of a double base welcomes us to an unexpected story of contrasts. Donkeys, as transportation, beasts of burden, and a member of the family with good teeth. Some donkeys never ‘suffer’ the indignity of being ridden by anyone. They are given food, shelter, a good brushing to remove the ever-present dust from their greige coloured, hairy coat and best of all, they are cared for as if a beloved child. They pull the cart, overloaded with dried cornstalks. No complaints. A cheerful mestizo man tells his delightful story of donkeys, mules and horses that are his life. He was kicked out of military school at age 10. When he returned home, his adoring grandparents gifted him a donkey, even if he had been a bad boy at school. The donkey was his soul mate and friend for eight years. Now he rides an energetic, low-slung donkey through the fields. Two smaller donkeys come running quickly behind the man and his transportation. We are told that if you are good in life, your spirit returns in the soul of a donkey when you die. This is positive news. Does a Peruvian really die? A young Afro-Peruvian digs up the lower jawbone of a donkey from the desert sands. It becomes a musical instrument with rattling teeth and hollow percussion sounds when tapping and scratching the solid bone. We hear the voiceover of a man telling us of his father’s death accompanied by the same sound of the double bass beat. A funeral altar is carried with love and respect through the streets of El Carmen, a main center for Afro-Peruvians, their music and history. Amador Ballambrusio, an exalted musician and central figure in Afro-Peruvian culture has died. Thousands throng the streets, dancing and singing to the exhilarating music, carrying their candles and offering their homage to the man they loved. Fireworks round off the funeral parade. Amador, along with his 14 children, was the heart and soul of the musical Ballambrusio Family. Their music typifys the unique sound and beat that exquisitely combines pulsating African music that has been passed down since the 1500’s, when Africans were first brought to Peru to work the gold mines, and the indigenous music of Peru mixed with Spanish musical heritage. The son explains that the spirit and soul of his father will not die. He was a good man. His spirit is here. “When father died, my sisters screamed and fainted. Then we had a party, made music and danced”. The family are at the graveside of their father with musical instruments. They are dancing and singing: making music for their father. The donkey’s jawbone is there. “I will die only when you no longer remember me”. Amador Ballambrusio

Happy Easter to all Living in Nyon Readers! If you are in Nyon over the Easter holidays, check out the decorated fountains across the town. These have been decorated by different voluntary groups and societies to celebrate the end of winter - when the water begins to flow again from the taps of the fountains.

Photo above: taken at Geneva Car Show 2012. C. Nelson-Pollard Flat to rent in Crans-Céligny available from 1st May 2012 Ground floor flat, 2 double bedrooms Large bathroom with bath, shower, WC. Separate guest WC Separate laundry & tumble drier. Lounge & beautifully equipped kitchen Garden, patio and large sunny terrace. Double garage. Cave with 25 m2 storage /work room, Temperature - controlled wine cellar. Surface without the garden and patio is 91.26 metres. Terrace 17.50 m2 Garden 103.90 m2 Cave 23 m2 Rent: CHF 3,500, plus charges. For more information and visit please call 024 420 23 44 or 076 559 41 52 or email desgeorge@addypac.ch "The Cat without a Tail " - Puppet Show in Nyon at the Usine a Gaz on Wednesday 14th March at 15:00 for children up to 12 years of age. Performed by the "Théâtre de Marionettes de Geneve" . Doors open 30 minutes before the performance. For reservations, more info see Usine a Gaz Tel 022 361 44 04 Rugby Match Saturday 17th March- Switzerland versus Slovenia 15:00 at Nyon Rugby club. See site for more detailsF_O_N Funky Orchestra - Nyon. A new band is being formed with a funky R and B sound! L'ADAC (The Association of Creative arts ), l'Ecole de Musique de Nyon and the l'Usine à Gaz are getting together to form a new group made up of musicians of the area. The group will be called F_O_N, Funky Orchestra-Nyon. This group will be directed by Dominique Favre, (professional musician) and made up of 8 to 15 musicians . These musicians will be chosen via audition in the following fields: drums, base guitar, keyboard, wind instruments and vocals. The repertoire will cover from the "70s" to today's music with intepretations from Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Earth Wind and Fire, Tower of Power, Michael Jackson, etc. The aim of the group is to perfrom two or three times a year at the Usine a Gaz. For more info dates/ times etc contact Enzo Miraglia 076/441 07 10 or see website here

Photo above from Tahrir: courtesy Visions du Réel Film review from the Visions du Réel festival of "Tahrir – Place de la Liberation" directed by Stefano Savona. Note: Although this film is not scheduled to be screened again in the official programme, a selection of prize winning films from the festival will be shown on Saturday 28 at the Salle Communale from 14:00-20:00. The awards ceremony will take place Friday 27th April and the results will be announced here on this site. This film was shown on Sunday 22nd April at the Usine a Gaz and is reviewed by Trish Thalman. She says it is a "visually exciting and important film". 31 January 2011, the sixth day of the Egyptian Revolution, and the the centrepoint is Tahrir Square in Cairo. Thousands of men, women and children are there with a united goal: they want the Mubarak regime to fall. The Revolution against Murbarak began because of the social injustices that the people of Egypt had suffered over the past 30 years. The recent fall of the Ben Ali regime in Tunisia had given Egyptians courage to stand up and protest. "You feel the jostling, taste the dust" In this film we are ‘on the ground’ though the hand-held camera that takes us right into the centre of Tahrir Square: the action, yelling, chanting, violence, blood and rock fights. You feel the jostling, taste the dust, smell bodies and blood. This visually exciting and important film follows the erratic and dangerous actions of the people that begins as a peaceful protest and culminates in the resignation of Hosni Mubarak eighteen days later. Three young activists are the main characters who weave through the film and tell a story of protest, liberation and concern. They have ideals, belief, education, energy. They are on their phones contacting everyone they know to spread the word, encouraging them to come to the square and be part of the revolution. See a trailer of the film here The crowds get larger and more tenacious. Mubarak gives a speech to the people imploring them to leave Tahrir and to “help me make the Guinness Book of Records”, as the longest serving elected President of Egypt……30 years in October 2011. The people listen, are appalled and stunned by what they hear: a man out of touch. The chanting, the singing, the protesting continues. More and more people come to the square, defiant and courageous. "We are Egyptians". The Muslim Brotherhood makes a patronising appearance at a rally of thousands to promote their agenda. The three young activists are concerned that the party will not allow a secular state, in spite of their promises to do so if they come to power once Mubarak is gone. Kentucky Fried Chicken is handed out for free Contentious, daily life in Tahrir continues with prayers, people sleeping, talking in groups. Kentucky Fried Chicken is handed out for free. Nobody is hungry. There is awareness that the revolution is leaderless…..not organised. Who will succeed, what will happen when, not if, Murbarak goes? The peaceful protest turns violent when the Murbarak regime release over 1000 prisoners from jails. They are given 5000 pounds, guns and knives and told to support Murbarak and destroy the protestors. There are deaths and massive injuries. The frenzy of bodies being removed is seen in blurred vision, because the revolution has now become a blur. The protestors break up the tiles and road pavements to be used in the fights - us against them. A particularly strong scene shows a young woman gathering up the ‘stones’, as many as she can carry in a jacket, and walking with determination and purpose to get to the ‘front lines’. She reaches a point and dumps the rocks for all to see. There are many takers to pick up the stones. We see the ‘makeshift’ headgear that the protestors have contrived to protect themselves from the stones that are being thrown by protestors and the ‘thugs’: cardboard, plastic rubbish bins, or whatever has been found for protection. Many protestors now have bandaged heads, bloodied faces, bruises, are hobbling with canes. The doctors and nurses treating the wounded in the square are bloodied and bandaged themselves. The young people ask to the camera, “who created this chaos, us or them”? There are moments of doubt. Murbarak resigns. The cheers go up and party goes on for hours. Exhaustion rules. A final chilling scene shows a woman and others looking at the camera and giving a warning: “beware we aren’t being fooled”. What do they know? Photo above: courtesy Visions du Réel