109 minutes / Color
French; English / English subtitles
Release: 2022
Copyright: 2020
Based on Jean-Philippe Rameau’s opera-ballet that was directed by Clément Cogitore for the Opéra National de Paris.
In 2019, eight opera singers and 30 dancers from a wide variety of artistic and demographic backgrounds convened at Paris’s Opéra Bastille to begin work on an ambitious new production of Les Indes galantes, a cornerstone of French musical history. From the director of Becoming Traviata, Philippe Béziat’s documentary, Gallant Indies, captures the work of this multifaceted troupe under the direction of artist and filmmaker Clément Cogitore; together, they shepherd Rameau’s opera into the 21st century, while exquisitely and joyfully mirroring the true diversity of contemporary France. Replete with gorgeous melodies and fantastic dance numbers, Cogitore’s production integrates questions of racism, classism, and colonialism into a radical new staging that both honors and transforms the original text.
“Fascinating!” —Ouest France
“The film serves as an invaluable tool for grasping the political scope of the project.” —Le Monde
“A fascinating immersion into the heart of a powerful project.” —Les Fiches du Cinéma
“Philippe Béziat’s documentary recreates the glorious energy of Parisian youth storming the Bastille.” —Le Figaro
Select Accolades
Offers remarkable footage of live performances, as well as first person interviews with the choreographer, Maguy Marin, whose work is daring, moving and continues to defy convention.
David Mambouch | 2020 | 105 minutes | Color | French | English subtitles
Tells the extraordinary story of Marius Petipa, the groundbreaking French choreographer who went on to create Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty.
Denis Sneguirev | 2019 | 52 minutes | Color | French; Russian; English; Italian | English subtitles | Closed Captioned
In the heart of Paris, a prestigious high school takes an audacious bet: integrate students from working-class districts and help them through dance and hip hop.
Thierry Demaizière and Alban Teurlai | 2023 | 115 minutes | Color | French | English subtitles
