_Racism in the boxing ring
_Synopsis
A story of blows. A story about bodies. A story of skin colour. America is criss-crossed by a deep, immense, yet almost invisible frontier: the one that separates white from black.
This unnamed dividing line determines property prices, unemployment rates and the attitude of police forces; it divides states, parcels out cities and divides neighbourhoods. And it is embodied, perhaps more than anywhere else, in a 5 x 5 metre square of light, circumscribed and highly symbolic.... The boxing ring.
Based on the book by Chafik Sayari Une histoire politique du ring noir.
_Technical sheet
Format: Documentary
Running time: 80'
Status: In development
Versions: French, English
Year: 2025
Director: Valéry GAILLARD
Artistic director: Jean-Charles MBOTTI MALOLO
Producers: Laurent DURET, François LE GALL, Marion GUTH
Production companies: Bachibouzouk (FR), a_BAHN (LU)
With the support of: Film Fund Luxembourg (LU), CNC (FR), PROCIREP-ANGOA (FR)
Valéry GAILLARD
Film director
Valery Gaillard is a writer and a director. After graduating from IDHEC, he has been assistant director on numerous documentary films, notably with Nicolas Philibert : “La ville Louvre” (The Louvre City), “Le pays des sourds” (The Land of the Deaf), “Un animal, des animaux”(An Animal, animals), “La moindre des choses” (The Least of Things) and with Albert and David Mayles “Christo à Paris (Christo in Paris).
As a director, Valery Gaillard is the author of “Le jour où la Guinée a dit non” (The day Guinea said no), “Nice, l’atelier perpétuel” (Nice, the perpetual workshop), “La Guerre des échecs”(The Chess War), “La France et ses immigrés” (France and its immigrants) (2014) and “Le retour des plans-reliefs” (The return of the relief shots) (2018).
Valery Gaillard is a writer and a director. After graduating from IDHEC, he has been assistant director on numerous documentary films, notably with Nicolas Philibert : “La ville Louvre” (The Louvre City), “Le pays des sourds” (The Land of the Deaf), “Un animal, des animaux”(An Animal, animals), “La moindre des choses” (The Least of Things) and with Albert and David Mayles “Christo à Paris (Christo in Paris).
As a director, Valery Gaillard is the author of “Le jour où la Guinée a dit non” (The day Guinea said no), “Nice, l’atelier perpétuel” (Nice, the perpetual workshop), “La Guerre des échecs”(The Chess War), “La France et ses immigrés” (France and its immigrants) (2014) and “Le retour des plans-reliefs” (The return of the relief shots) (2018).
Born in 1984 in Lyon, Jean-Charles studied at the Émile Cohl school in the auteur film section and graduated in 2007 with the jury's congratulations. His graduation film Le Coeur est un métronome received the Best First Film Award at the Hiroshima Film Festival in 2008.
Drawing is his first passion, but dance has always been part of his mode of expression. He joined the Stylistik company in 2008. In June 2012, Jean-Charles trained in sign language to write and direct Le Sens du toucher, under the friendly eye of Emmanuelle Laborit. This second short film, combining the aesthetics of dance and sign language, received more than 20 international prizes, among more than 60 official selections in festivals.
Les Mots, Jean-Charles' first choreographic show - a solo for two performers - is premiered at the beginning of 2017. It is a continuation of his work on non-verbal communication.
His latest film, Make it Soul, whose graphic design is by Simon Roussin, aims to pay homage to the essence of black American music, bringing Solomon Burke and James Brown back to life. Make it Soul has been nominated for a César award for best animated short film 2020.
In 2021, Jean-Charles supervised the animation of the doc series Ex Aequo! (Bachibouzouk, a_BAHN for France Televisions, RTBF, RTL Luxembourg). He's currently working on his first feature-length animation film.
Jean-Charles MBOTTI MALOLO
Artistic Director
Born in 1984 in Lyon, Jean-Charles studied at the Émile Cohl school in the auteur film section and graduated in 2007 with the jury's congratulations. His graduation film Le Coeur est un métronome received the Best First Film Award at the Hiroshima Film Festival in 2008.
Drawing is his first passion, but dance has always been part of his mode of expression. He joined the Stylistik company in 2008. In June 2012, Jean-Charles trained in sign language to write and direct Le Sens du toucher, under the friendly eye of Emmanuelle Laborit. This second short film, combining the aesthetics of dance and sign language, received more than 20 international prizes, among more than 60 official selections in festivals.
Les Mots, Jean-Charles' first choreographic show - a solo for two performers - is premiered at the beginning of 2017. It is a continuation of his work on non-verbal communication.
His latest film, Make it Soul, whose graphic design is by Simon Roussin, aims to pay homage to the essence of black American music, bringing Solomon Burke and James Brown back to life. Make it Soul has been nominated for a César award for best animated short film 2020.
In 2021, Jean-Charles supervised the animation of the doc series Ex Aequo! (Bachibouzouk, a_BAHN for France Televisions, RTBF, RTL Luxembourg). He's currently working on his first feature-length animation film.
PRODUCED BY
WITH THE SUPPORT OF
