Synopsis
The African country of Guinea contains the biggest bauxite deposits in the world. However, the profits from the extraction of this ore, which is used to produce aluminum, does not go to the Guineans. Despite this, beside the capital’s factories are all kinds of craftsmen, who melt down used aluminum cans to make new objects necessary for the lives of the community, making them into pots, bricks, drums and even antennas. This artisan activity, and manual work in general, are celebrated in a symbolic way by the dance troupe Soleil d’Afrique, evoking through their choreography the nourishing relationship of men and the women to the earth.
A word from Tënk
Sylvain L'Espérance's first documentary filmed in West Africa, The Invisible Hand puts into dialogue the industrial production process of aluminum with the manual work of craftsmen and artists in Guinea. Following on from his previous film Le temps qu'il fait, in which he paints a choral portrait of people working in Montreal in a profession marginalized by the steamroller of capitalism, the filmmaker questions the theory according to which the market regulates itself naturally, for the benefit of a general interest (the market's invisible hand). Far from expressing a thesis in a frontal way, the filmmaker takes a patient and precise look at the gesture (the invisible hands) and at the social interactions that participate in consolidating the community. With great finesse, he allows viewers a great deal of freedom in reading his work. A subtle documentary that trusts the intelligence that we hope will trickle down.
Hubert Sabino-Brunette
Teacher and programmer
