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Les Filles de la sardine

Marie Hélia
2000 France 50 minutes French

In Douarnenez, there are still three hundred girls at work in the last three remaining fish factories of a town that formerly counted some twenty or so. Their work conditions are not always easy, but they cope. And it takes a determined struggle to obtain from the management a simple pair of scissors. Salaries are barely sufficient, as the activity is seasonal, but they have free time’ Tins of tuna, sardines, and mackerel whiz by. The camera films the routine of the production line, the speed and precision of gestures. Young recruits and experienced workers talk about the atmosphere on the shop-floor, comradeship, life’ in the factory and outside.

Marie Hélia

Née en 1960 à Marseille, elle a d’abord été comédienne. Depuis 1989 elle a écrit les scénarii de : • Rêve de Siam, 1991-1992, • Des orchidées pour Mr Lin, 1992, • Le cri du dahut, 1997, • Passerelle, 1999. Et elle a réalisé entre autres : • L’Usine Rouge, 1989, • An enez du (L’île Noire), 1992-1993 • BZH, des Bretons des Bretagnes…, 1995-1997, • Monette, 1999 • Les Filles de la sardine, 2000 • Traces de futur • Les Princesses de la piste (fiction), 2004

Production :
Paris-Brest Productions; Odyssée; TV Rennes
Distribution :
Agence du court métrage
Editing :
Josie Micjevic
Sound :
Henri Puizillout
Photography :
Pierre Viale; Catherine Pujol

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