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Cannes’ Doc Jury Head and Former Golden Bear Winner Nicolas Philibert On the Importance of Improvisation in His Work
Philibert discussed his process before an industry crowd on the final day of Cannes Docs, the Marché du Film sidebar dedicated to documentary films.
Shot on a floating day care centre in Paris for people suffering from mental disorders, “On the Adamant” follows a group of patients as they attend a variety of activities and share the stories of their lives with the filmmaker. After much hesitation – “Initially, I rejected the idea of bringing my camera into a place where people just want to be left alone” – he heeded suggestions to go and meet the caregivers and the patients. “The people you meet in the psychiatric wards give the impression of searching for meaning, and that’s why they are so stimulating: they push you beyond your boundaries, make you question yourself.
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