Julius-Amédée Laou
Directing
Biography
Julius-Amédée Laou, born on February 9th, 1950, is a distinguished filmmaker, playwright, theatre director, and writer. Hailing from Paris with Martinican roots, Laou made his mark with the short films "Open Mic Solitaire" and "Mist Melodies in Paris." He later expanded his cinematic vision with two notable feature films: "The Old Sorceress and the Valet" (1987) and "Zouk, Marriage and Ouélélé!" (2004). A compelling voice representing the Caribbean diaspora, Laou masterfully blends sharp-witted comedy to unveil the stark contrasts of a Black individual's experience in France. His films, imbued with fervent outrage, range from the fiery and thought-provoking to the tranquil and comical.
Known For
An old couple, Eugenie and Armand, have been living in Paris since 1921 part of the wave of post-war immigration from Martinique. Eugenie, a former dancer with Josephine Baker's Black Revue has become a professional quimboiseuse (practising black magic) for a white clientele. Armand who had been a servant is retired. Now they are both old and bitter and still quarreling with each other. One day they set out, arm-in-arm for a last promenade in the metropolis.
The Old Sorceress & the Valet
In Jean Rouch's cinematic reinterpretation of Julius-Amédée Laou's theatrical work, a freshly appointed nurse steps into the chaotic world of a psychiatric ward. Tasked with nurturing the minds within, she forms a profound connection with a patient from Martinique who has been confined within the institution's walls for half a century. As their relationship deepens, the lines between reality and delusion blur, weaving a complex narrative of human connection and psychological intrigue.
The Ordinary Madness of a Daughter of Ham
In Julius Amédée-Laou's biting dramedy, a supposedly joyful interracial wedding descends into chaos when long-buried prejudices and family secrets rise to the surface. Told through the cocky lens of the bride's younger brother, what begins as a lighthearted summer affair turns nightmarish as scandal threatens to destroy the unlikely couple's big day.
French Wedding, Caribbean Style
Julius-Amédée Laou's Open Mic Solitaire is about a Black Parisian who hijacks a radio station after his brother is murdered by racists.
Open Mic Solitaire
Richard, a West Indian man in his forties, remembers "his war" in Algeria. More than twenty years later, he still carries internal trauma.