Events

Past Event

No Chains No Masters (Ni Chaînes ni maîtres)

February 3, 2025
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
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East Gallery, Maison Française, Buell Hall

Simon Moutaïrou, 2024, 98 min. In French with English subtitles
U.S. Avant-première film screening and Q&A with director Simon Moutaïrou

Ni Chaînes ni maîtres takes place in 1759 on the Isle de France, the French colony now known as Mauritius. In this fictional story, Massamba and his daughter Mati, enslaved people on Eugène Larcenet’s plantation, live in fear and toil. One night, Mati flees in search of a community of fugitive slaves – known as maroons – who are said to live free in the greatest secrecy. The plantation owner hires a slave hunter, Madame la Victoire, to track Mati down, and Massamba has no choice but to escape as well.

No Chains No Masters is the first film about slavery in France in 35 years!

Simon Moutaïrou’s film, situated on the borderline between historical drama and adventure film, explores the history of marronage in colonial France.  It fills a striking void; only one other French feature film (Case Départ) has been released about the history of slavery in French colonies in the past 20 years.  Ni Chaînes ni maîtres also offers a strong contrast to American movie portrayals of slavery and resistance.  The film’s release in France just a few months ago has generated considerable interest and provoked discussions about the history and meaning of slavery in the French colonies.

View trailer here.

After years of writing screenplays for others - Julien Leclercq (Braqueurs, L'Assaut), Yann Gozlan (Burn Out, Boite Noire) - Ni Chaînes ni Maîtres is Simon Moutaïrou’s first feature film.

Disclaimer: Please be aware some of the content is emotionally charged and is sensitive in nature.

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