Archive of films Detroit Wild City / Detroit ville sauvage

France
2010, 80 min

Section: Documentary Films - Competition
Year: 2011

Derelict houses lining empty streets in the centre of town, abandoned by more than half the population, where you’re more likely to come across pitbulls than cars – welcome to modern-day Detroit. Yet in the past Detroit was a proud city, as captured in the archive footage in this spellbinding documentary by French director Florent Tillon.

Synopsis

It’s a wonder that more post-apocalyptic films like Mad Max aren’t shot in Detroit – derelict houses lining empty streets in the centre of town, abandoned by more than half the population, where you’re more likely to come across pitbulls than cars – it’s simply the perfect location. Yet in the past Detroit was a highly productive bastion of American industry and people certainly didn’t have anything to complain about, as we’ll see from the archive footage in this spellbinding documentary by French director Florent Tillon. The guides on this hypnotic journey through contemporary Detroit are people from all walks of life – a local philosopher, pianist, stray dog catcher, and even a guy who can fix practically anything. The polished visual compositions from this "ghost town,” together with the subtle soundtrack and intriguing characters, make for a truly unique picture.

About the director

Florent Tillon (b. New Caledonia, South Pacific) now lives in Paris. In his work he focuses chiefly on the landscape and endeavours to capture the fusion of nature with culture. As a self-taught filmmaker he first came up with the documentary Observatory (L’observatoire, 2007), which was followed by an hour-long film about a rabbit colony trapped in the middle of a roundabout in the centre of Paris, Porte Maillot Traffic Circle (Rond-point de la Porte Maillot, 2007). This film delighted producer Pierre-Emmanuel Fleurantin to the extent that he invited Tillon to collaborate on the documentary Detroit Wild City (Detroit ville sauvage, 2010). Other films: Las Vegas Meditation (2009), Gran Scala, the Last Western (Gran Scala, le dernier western, 2009).

Contacts

The Festival Agency
Kwerk, 22 Bd Malesherbes, 750 08, Paris
France
Tel: +33 954 904 863
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.thefestivalagency.com

About the film

Color, HD CAM

Section:	Documentary Films - Competition

Director:	Florent Tillon
Screenplay:	Florent Tillon
Dir. of Photography:	Florent Tillon
Music:	William Basinski, Xavier Klaine, Ruth Rosenthal
Editor:	Claire Atherton, Florent Tillon
Producer:	Pierre-Emmanuel Fleurantin
Production:	Ego Productions
Contact:	The Festival Agency

Guests

Leslie Vuchot

Distributor, Service Company Rep.