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James Gray and New York: A Land for the Exiled

Synopsis: James Gray is a discrete genius, an icon of American independant cinema who was revealed in the 1990’s with the movie “Little Odessa” and kept confirming his unmatched talent with movies like “We own the night”, “Two Lovers”, “The Immigrant”, “Armageddon Time”… His cinema explores the complexity of moral dilemmas his blood related characters have to face in a corrupted and violent society. 13 min documentary for Arte, "Invitation Au Voyage". August 2022.

Carville-by-the-Sea: San Francisco’s Streetcar Suburb

Synopsis: When cable cars began replacing San Francisco’s old horsecars, the Market Street Railway Company needed to purge their outmoded horse-drawn inventory. So in 1895, they began selling the old horsecars for $20, or $10 without the seats. Some creative individuals purchased these horsecars and converted them into houses, offices, clubs, and shops on the outskirts of town... 7 min documentary for Arte, "Invitation Au Voyage". May 2022.

Chang Dai-Chien in California: painting from heart to hand

https://vimeo.com/677339278

Synopsis: Chang Dai-chien or Zhang Daqian (Chinese: 張大千; 10 May 1899 – 2 April 1983) was one of the best-known and most prodigious Chinese artists of the twentieth century. As he moved to Northern California in the 1960's, his new environment and his deteriorating eyesight led him to develop a whole new way of painting: the pocai style, which combines abstract expressionism with traditional Chinese styles of painting. He called it "painting from heart to hand"... 13 min documentary for Arte, "Invitation Au Voyage". October 2021.

The story of the Anti-mask League in San Francisco

Synopsis: The influenza pandemic of 1918 and 1919 was the most deadly flu outbreak in history, killing up to 50 million people worldwide. In the United States, local governments rolled out initiatives to try to stop its spread. Wearing a mask was one of them. Most people complied, but some resisted... 7 min documentary for Arte, "Invitation Au Voyage". September 2021.

In the Richmond, the Devil is never too far

Synopsis: The Richmond is not just a pretty neighborhood in San Francisco, it is also the historical home for a certain "Black House" in 1966... 7 min documentary for Arte, "Invitation Au Voyage". April 2021.

Under the threatening California Sun: a story of Joan Didion

Synopsis: For nearly five decades, Joan Didion has been one of California’s most compelling literary voices. Her coverage of zeitgeist moments, from ’60s “be-ins” to the election of Ronald Reagan, helped usher in an era of journalism where reporting read as engagingly as a novel. She’s penned books on Miami and El Salvador, covered national politics and now resides in New York City, yet California remains her work’s true north. 13 min documentary for Arte, "Invitation Au Voyage". January 2021.

Coming out in San Francisco: the story of Harvey Milk

Synopsis: Harvey Milk was an outspoken human rights activist and one of the first openly gay U.S. politicians elected to public office in San Francisco; even after his assassination in 1978, he continues to inspire disenfranchised people around the world. 7 min documentary for Arte, "Invitation Au Voyage". September 2019.

Back to the origins of Burning Man

Synopsis: Did you know Burning Man could trace its roots to Baker Beach? In 1986, a wooden figure burnt on Baker beach during the Summer Solstice. A curious crowd gathered to watch it burn. The rest is history... 7 minutes documentary for Arte, "Invitation Au Voyage". Juin 2019.

A secret mineshaft on Berkeley Campus

Synopsis: The Berkeley campus is filled with secrets... One of them is hidden on the north side of campus, locked behind a metal-grated door but visible if you know where to look. The door leads to the Lawson Adit, a mine blasted into the Berkeley hills — directly across the Hayward fault — more than 100 years ago by students. A 7 minutes documentary for Arte, "Invitation Au Voyage". January 2019.

In Chicago, the liberating fever of jazz

Synopsis: In 1915, African-American musicians from New Orleans came to Chicago. They brought something with them: jazz! 13 minutes documentary for Arte, "Invitation Au Voyage". January 2019.