our days, absolutely, have to be enlightened

Orléans (France), 28 May 2011. The inmates of a prison are singing, unseen by camera or human eye. Outside in the street, people are listening. Carried along by the music, the faces of the listeners who have come for the occasion light up, conveying many possible stories to the camera. On one side, voices; on the other, faces: on one side, sound; on the other the visual image: between the two, emotional ties begin to form. Starting from a premise both simple and effective, Nos jours, absolument, doivent être illuminés illustrates the principle of the documentary account in action. Using gentle travelling shots which come to a stop as if in amazement on a face more eloquent than the rest, this short film puts us in touch with people’s inner lives without straying into psychology. If the discovery of reality is first a question of method, then of sensitivity, Jean-Gabriel Périot provides evidence that he can make effective use of both.

Carlo Chatrian

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