Jean Rouch: Premier Film, 1947-1991

Streaming video - 2014

The director, Dominique Dubosc gives Jean Rouch the opportunity to improvise a new commentary for his first film made in 1947, In the Land of the Black Magi (Au pays des mages noirs) of a Songhay possession dance in Niger. Rouch explains the sacrifices he made due to the producer that took on his film and the “monster” thus created; his footage was re-edited with a new ending, new titles, stock footage, “tropical muzak,” and a newsreel-style narration heavy on drama and highlighting the exotic.