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The Bathers
by Anouk Barrère
France
In Marseille, at the end of August, four bathers refuse to let summer end. From their bathing spot, they dance to stretch the season and claim the right to decide freely over their bodies and their time. What begins as a gentle, contemplative moment by the Mediterranean Sea gradually builds into a powerful Dancehall performance, a sun-drenched revolt against the demands that dictate our lives. Channeling the spirit of the Dancehall Queens, the bathers reclaim their image, their sensuality, and their freedom through dance.
words from the filmmaker
When I started taking dance classes three years ago, I discovered the sense of freedom that dance can unleash. And since I live by the sea in Marseille, it gave me the idea to revisit the theme of bathers, a historical painting motif predominantly depicted by men, which often portrays women in passive, sensual poses. But in Marseille today, the bather looks less like Botticelli's Venus and more like the iconic "cagoles" (women known for their free way of dressing, speaking, and moving). So I wanted to twist it into a film that expresses women's freedom and power through dance.
In dancehall culture, the Dancehall Queen is a woman who dominates, embodies sensuality, and decides what she does with her body. That felt like the perfect answer to the passive bather of art history.
why we love this film
This piece captures a sense of freedom, power, and support that makes us feel alive. The perfect film to start our summer!
credits
Writer & Director
Dancers
Narrated by
Produced by
Choreographer
DOP
Steadicam
1st AC
Drone pilots
Sound operator
1st assistant director
2nd assistant director
Script supervisor
Stylism
Jewelry & accessories
Hair & make up artist:
HMU assistant
Art department
Unit manager
Unit manager assistant
PAs
Grip
Editor
Sound editor & sound designer
Sound mixing
Color grading
Graphist
Original music
Additionnal musique
Anouk Barrère
Sandra Mordendi
Dasupadoud
Mahélys Beautes
Angelina aka NJ
Hélène-Rose Kinsey-Grumbach
Pastaga_films
Lanouvelledague
Aline Colors
Anne Aylies
Arthur Schwarz
Amélie Gastaldi
Fred Moura
Pierre Bruley
Valentin Leverrier
Pauline Morel
Ivany Aggal
Zélie Bonge
Tomy Laquevre
Lovely Vintage Club
Romina Allio
Rémy Boulogne
Diane Rigou-Chemin
Romane Sachs
Julien Chatelain
Alex Leclaire
Catinca Dumitrescu
Theo Moulay
Tina Ivasco
Victor Landau
Hugo Debrie
Julia Fernandez
Thomas Delaporte
Kayla
Vybz Kartel - "In Stock"
