Comparative views: environments, changing air - Degrade

Since 2012, Inalco has been a partner of the Jean Rouch Festival, screening films from the Regards comparés selection in the auditorium. This year, screenings will be held from November 24 to 27, 2025 on the theme of the environment. All screenings will be followed by a debate with filmmakers and experts.
Deux femmes sont assises sur deux bancs a l'extrémité du cadre de la photo, devant une clôture. A gauche une jeune femme en maillot de bain et à droite une vieille dame avec une canne
Après nous ne restera que la terre brûlée © Wallonie Image Production (WIP)‎

2 - 3:45 pm

  • La Terre abandonnée, Belgium | 2016 | 73 min | vostf
    A film by Gilles Laurent (Belgium)

Five years after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the small town of Tomioka is still empty of its fifteen thousand inhabitants. Yet a handful of people have returned to this radiation-hot land. While the "decontamination" work orchestrated by the Japanese government seems derisory and futile in the face of the scale of both the human and ecological earthquake, the seemingly unreasonable but peaceful existence of these diehards reminds us that a piece of land is, in the final analysis, our safest link to the world.

Discussion with Rina Kojima, Iresearch engineer at LATTS moderated by Noémi Godefroy, lecturer at Inalco, historian of modern Japan (XVIIIe-XXe century)

4pm - 5:45pm

  • After us only the scorched earth will remain, Belgium | 2014 | 80 min | vostf
    A film by Delphine Fedoroff (Belgium)

In April 1986, at the Chernobyl Power Plant, one of the greatest ecological disasters occurred: a nuclear explosion on an unprecedented scale. Since then, despite the danger, in the Ukrainian village of Dytiatky, close to the power plant, the inhabitants have persisted in living on their land, perpetuating their rites and culture. After 25 years, how does this community view its history? And what do their grandchildren think? What are the current reasons for staying or leaving?

Discussion with director Delphine Fedoroff, in duplex (to be confirmed), and moderated by Laurent Coumel, lecturer in contemporary history at Inalco.

Coffee and tea break

6 - 7:30 pm

  • Golden fish, African fish, Senegal | 2017 | 52 min | vostf
    A film by Moussa Diop (Senegal) and Thomas Grand (France)

Fishing, in Casamance, mobilizes thousands of people, men and women, from all over Senegal but also from bordering countries. Resources are overexploited, but sardinella remain abundant. A serious threat is looming: the creation by Chinese capital of a fishmeal factory. Processing activities and trade across Sahelian Africa are about to be turned upside down.

Discussion in the presence of Mikaël Serre, director, moderated by Alice Chaudemanche, lecturer in Wolof language and literature at Inalco

7:30 - 9:30 pm

  • Iron Winter, Australia, Mongolia | 2025 | 89 min | vosta
    A film by Kasimir Burgess (Australia)

"In Mongolia's Tsakhir Valley, Batbold faces the greatest challenge of his life: ensuring the survival of a thousand horses during the harshest winter on record. After this epic journey, and with the future of his community at stake, Batbold must make a crucial choice between defending the values of his culture, or abandoning them in favor of a more attractive life in the city." (Visions du Réel)

Discussion in the presence of Gaëlle Lacaze, professor at Sorbonne University (SU), member of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences (SU-UPC-UPEC-CNRS-IRD-INRAE) and Charlotte Marchina, lecturer in anthropology at Inalco.