Synopsis
And the Dogs Were Quiet is based on recorded excerpts from Aimé Césaire’s play of the same name where the rebel expresses himself in a long pain-racked poem in front of the mother, crying out loud his revolt against the enslavement of his people. Gabriel Glissant and Sarah Maldoror appear as actors at the Museum of Man in Paris which is devoted to Black Africa, integrating three spectators in their game who take the role of silent witnesses. Some pictures of wooden statues and masks from African reserves, as well as escapements of Martinican landscapes, round off this documentary.
A word from Tënk
This film takes us into two spaces bearing the scars of colonialism and slavery: the storerooms of the Musée de l’Homme in Paris, and the serene landscapes of Martinique. Guiding a group of young students through the museum's archives, the "rebel" confronts African masks and sculptures, delivering a powerful critique of slavery and injustice. His voice resonates, projecting a vision of a new world, free from the oppressive claws of the colonial capitalist regime. This short film reflects Maldoror's commitments to education, culture, and social change. It reappropriates and subverts the museum, transforming it into a powerful space for cultural decolonization.
Dareen Hussein
Author and curator
