Encounter with the Ma’ohi culture of French Polynesia

In the presence of Axel T. Lichtlé, At NFB Cinema, at the Simon Bolivar Cultural Centre and at Cinémathèque québécoise

Axel Teikivahitinioheapo Lichtlé is no doubt one of the most prolific contemporary directors in French Polynesia. Axel T. Lichtlé, who focuses on safeguarding his culture and environment, has directed many documentaries with the French Polynesia Audiovisual Communications Institute, then at Tahiti Nui Television, often taking on photography direction and editing as well.

Lichtlé hails from the Marquesas Islands, and it is with the pride typical of these islanders that he shares his passion for the preservation of the subsistence way of life at the heart of Ma'ohi identity. Like the old fisherman Kooua whose oral memories he records in Kooua Oho Te Ti, Axel T. Lichtlé encourages young people to take back their Ma'ohi traditions and become the guardians of a unique ecosystem. With a sensitive and agile camera, Axel T. Lichtlé reveals sublime, breathtaking landscapes in particular when he returns to his native isles. Three titles refer to these: Terres des hommes (Land of Men, the original name of the Marquesas: Enua Enata in the Ma'ohi language), Eiao, l'île au trésor et Mamo et les chasseurs, about a treasure island and a traditional hunt.

Axel T. Lichtlé also accompanies us as we discover other facets of the Ma'ohi culture in French Polynesia, acting as director of photography in such films as Les Sentiers de la création directed by Marie-Hélène Villierme, allowing us to experience the genesis of a dance performance. Ma'ohi choreographic art was long forbidden by the missionaries, and is being reborn now with an unequalled splendour, as also revealed in La Danse des costumes by Claire Schwobs et Horo'a, le don by Jacques Navarro-Rovira.

This cinematographic lineup can't remain silent about the topic of nuclear testing that went on in French Polynesia for 30 years. The excellent feature-length documentary Blowing up Paradise by Ben Lewis is a must. While Mahu, l'effeminé by Jean-Michel Corillion (the mahu is the Oceanian equivalent of the Amerindian berdache) Nées polynésiennes by Éric Bacos (about Polynesian women today) and Marquisien, mon frère de Jacques Navarro- Rovira (about a particular family arrangement created by giving a child to family friends, a practice also found among Inuit in Canada) all focus on contemporary social and identity issues in French Polynesia.

Cinémathèque québécoise is featuring a cycle focusing on the famous poet, screenplay writer, filmmaker and actor Henri Hiro (1944-1990) who was one of the most ardent defenders of a return to the revalorization of Ma'ohi culture. French Polynesian author and poet Flora Aurima-Devatine will present the films.

Making this unique cultural journey to Fenua (the Ma'ohi lands) in just a few days is a very short time to see everything there is to discover, so it will be quite the whirlwind tour! Maeva i Porinetia (welcome to Polynesia) to each and every one of you!

WORKSHOP AND LECTURES (in French)

THURSDAY, JUNE 18 at 5 pm / MAISON DES ÉCRIVAINS, 3492, AVENUE LAVAL

Litterama’ohi

MONDAY, JUNE 15 at 12 noon / INRS, 385, RUE SHERBROOKE EST, MONTRÉAL

Ma’ohi Dance and Literature

SATURDAY, JUNE 20 / CAFÉ L’ESCALIER, 552, RUE STE-CATHERINE EST

Tahiti to Wendake, the poetry workshop

 

See Workshops and Lectures

Catherine Drolet

CURATOR: ENCOUNTER WITH THE MA’OHI CULTURE OF FRENCH POLYNESIA

Caught up in the cultural effervescence of French Polynesia, which she discovered in 2006, Catherine Drolet has been involved in media arts projects on the topic since then, with her company Films de l'oeil. In 2008, feeling an urgent need to share her passion for culture of Ma’ohi origin and to allow us to discover a Polynesia beyond the paradisiacal images of its islands, Catherine Drolet developed the cultural exchange project First Nations and Ma'ohi People. She returned to French Polynesia to prepare the artistic program for this major encounter with the Ma’ohi culture of French Polynesia, a featured event of First Peoples' Festival, 19^th edition.