Carnaval 2008!

Although this year’s Carnaval was a bit calmer than those of previous years, the streets were still filled with people eagerly awaiting to see what surprises would be revealed. The first group to arrive were the horses and riders from the Ranch of Flamands. This year, 11 groups paraded through the streets of Gustavia, including Rhum et Gingembre, Les Cassiopées presenting champagne, Saint Barth Allegria, Portugal, Disco Party, Perd Pas Le Nord, Funstown, SBJAM “La Pointe en Mouvement” and The Hideaway, performing as The Gipsy Kings and belting out a strong performance of Volare with full participation by the crowd. Pre-Carnaval festivities have taken place every Sunday evening for the past month, culminating in Children’s Carnaval on Friday, February 1, as groups of children paraded through Gustavia accompanied by a marching tambour band and “floats” playing music. The official end of Carnaval came on Wednesday night, February 6, as the funeral procession carrying Vaval throughout Gustavia made its way to Shell Beach, where the burning of Vaval marks the end of Carnaval.

Carnival 2008

Tuesday, February 5, is Carnival and you can be sure that the participating groups are working on final adjustments to their costumes and their choreography. All the fun starts at 3:00 pm, with the groups departing from Public. Below is this year’s schedule of appearance.

Le Ranch
SBJAM “La Pointe in Mouvement
Funstown
ASCO / ASP “Cho Douvant”
The Hideaway (Chez Andy)
Rhum et Gingembre
Portugal
Saint Barth Allegria
Disco Party
Cassiopees
Perd Pas Le Nord

Twelfth St Barth Film Festival

One of the most anticipated events on the island is the annual Film Festival, which takes place this year April 25-30. As always, this year’s line-up of films is sure to captivate the audience. Four feature films, two shorts in 35 mm and several video screenings make up this year’s program. Ellen Lampert-Gréaux, co-founder of the festival, has also invited many of the films’ directors to present their films and answer questions from the audience. The films are projected on the large white wall at the A.J.O.E. tennis courts in Lorient, where non-alcoholic drinks, popcorn, T-shirts and baseball caps can be purchased. Admission is 5 € per night or five nights for 25 €. All films are either in French or have French subtitles. All films are shown at A.J.O.E. in Lorient unless otherwise noted.

Wednesday, April 25 at 8:00 pm
Saudade Do Futuro by César Paes and Marie-Clémence Paes
90 minutes, Brazil, 2001, 35mm
Portuguese with French subtitles
This film depicts Sao Paulo as seen through the eyes of a group from northern Brazil who move to the city in search of work and a better life.

Thursday, April 26 at 8:00 pm
Rolling Family by Pablo Trapero
103 minutes, Argentina, 2004, 35mm
Spanish with French subtitles
A humorous movie that follows the road trip of an 84-year-old grandmother who has been invited to be the matron of honor at a wedding. Her entire family accompanies her and sets out in an old camping car to make the voyage.

Friday, April 27 at 8:00 pm
Il était une fois— Sasha et Désiré by Cécile Vernant
25 minutes, Martinique/France, 2006, 35mm
This short film is the story of a love affair between Sasha and Désiré. Presented as a flashback, Sasha relates the story of their meeting in France in the 1930s to her great grandchildren in Martinique.

35th Anniversary: The Harder They Come by Perry Henzell
98 minutes, Jamaica, 1972, 35 mm
English with French subtitles
Shown at the first Film Festival in 1996, this ever popular film is being presented again to pay homage to Perry Henzell, who passed away in December 2006 and to celebrate its 35th anniversary. The film tells the story of a boy (Jimmy Cliff) who moved to Kingston to try to fulfill his dreams of becoming a singer. We all know how that ended!

Saturday, April 28 at 3:00 pm at the Capitainerie, Gustavia
Port-au-Prince, ma ville by Rigoberto Lopez and Frantz Voltaire
52 minutes, documentary, Haïti
This film is part of a special Traveling Showcase of Caribbean Cinema organized in conjunction with UNESCO. A roundtable on Caribbean Cinema will also be conducted.

Saturday, April 28 at 8:00 pm
Pan’s Labyrinth by Guillermo del Toro
112 minutes, Spain/US/Mexico, 2006, 35mm
No one under 12 years old admitted
Spanish with French subtitles
This horror/fantasy film premiered at the Cannes film festival in 2006 and, subsequently, won three Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction and Best Make-up.

Sunday, April 29 at 7:00 pm at the Capitainerie, Gustavia
Lanmou a bois (A Passion For Wood) by Janluk Stanislas
15 minutes, documentary, Guadeloupe, 2006, video
A short film about woodworkers from Pointe Noire, Guadeloupe.

De mémoire d’anciens (Memories of Our Past) by Victoire Theismann
52 minutes
World premiere of a documentary about the history of St Barth as seen through the memories of its elders, from secret travel to St Thomas to working in the salt flats to the modernization of the island.

Monday, April 30 at 8:00 pm
Adolfo de Sofi Delaage by Sofi Delaage
43 minutes, France/Cuba, 2005, 35mm
Spanish with French subtitles
Adolfo is a taxi driver in Havana whose car is always in need of repair. The film is the story of a man torn between the wish to leave his native Cuba and the love he has for his tumultuous country.