Synopsis
Located in Nantes, Le Masque is a legendary bar for several generations of night owls, activists and local residents. Behind the counter, Josy, in her 70s, still brings her personal touch to this atypical place. As we push open the bar’s door, we also enter into its intimacy. From barroom gossip to confidences, find out who’s behind Le Masque…
A word from Tënk
Josy is the kind of larger-than-life character documentary filmmakers dream of. At 74, she's the soul of the bar Le Masque, which she's been running since 1987: "I was born the moment I arrived here."
The documentary is a tribute to this punkish barkeeper, who listens to Brigitte Fontaine and hums Barbara as she recalls the evening when she allowed a crowd of demonstrators pursued by the national police to take refuge in her bar. "She paid for all of us", says a regular of the place, which regularly plays host to a militant fauna, and where Josy is loved, a lot, even more than she realizes.
With Derrière le masque, Julie Auzou and Gary Salin have penned a soothing tale, recounting the joys and sufferings of a life that has not been easy.
Jenny Cartwright
Documentarian and audio artist
