Sansa (R)

by Siegfried

Sansa (Roschdy Zem), a street artist and hustler, is undertaking hedonistic travels between Paris and Russia, quenching his thirst for wine, women, song and movement. His smooth tongue talks his way in and out of situations with a good dose of urban panache.

The character of Sansa is the film's captivating centre amid the visual dizzying, ever-changing topography of sights, sounds and people. His acquaintance with a variety of locales is often brief, but in several places he encounters Click (Ivry Gitlis), a pre-eminent violonist and conductor, who becomes a friend.  Together, they share their passion for beauty, "bon mot" and travels. Zem exudes a marvelous confidence that allows his character to radiate vitality.

In Sansa, artist/writer/producer/director Siegfried presents a vibrant and visual essay on the subject of national identity and the need to transcend barriers. Siegfried's heralded first-feature Louise (take 2) depicted a young woman's experiences as she wandered through Paris metro. Sansa's vision is bigger: taking in Eastern and Western Europe, Egypt, Africa and Japan. The film is pulsating with boundless energy and captures the vibrations and dynamism of the many countries, as Sansa, the charismatic iconoclast, scours the crowds he encounters with his artist's eye.

Shot in grainy digital, guerilla style, Sansa has a witty and colourful aesthetic - and an exhaustive sense of joie de vivre. The serendipitous cinematography is both gorgeous and sophisticated and the electro-jazzy French touch soundtrack, a collaboration between the director and Gitlis, builds the ambiance around the stunning images, creating a hypnotic and super modern film. The film has been presented at several high profile recent festivals: Director's Fortnight at Cannes 2003, Toronto Film Festival 2003 and Tokyo Film Festival 2003, and is a completely unique and memorable cinematic experience.

France - 2003 - 115mins  - Cinematographic Essay - French with English subtitles
Director: Siegfried
Script: Siegfried
With: Roschdy Zem, Ivry Gitlis, Emma Suarez, Rita Durao, Valentina Cervi, Ayako Fujitani, Georges Abe, Bassem Samra, Amar Attia, Silke