Where Zebus Speak French (F/F)

Dir. Nantenaina Lova | France | Madagascar | Germany | Burkina Faso | 103 min | 2023

Set on the rice paddies of Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo, Where Zebus Speak French explores the ongoing resistance of subsistence farmers against the political and economic interests of China’s ‘Presidential Project’ developments, which continue to threaten their ancestral land and way of life. At the heart of the film lies a searing exploration of modern colonialism, forced displacement and exploitation, revealing a deeper corruption and betrayal of the very people the government claims to serve and protect. Punctuated by daily life on the paddies and rich folkloric mythologies expressed in stories performed through traditional puppetry, the film shows how Malagasy culture, identity, and history remain inseparable from the land they are fighting to protect. Guided by an unwavering spirit, Where Zebus Speak French captures the experiences of a community led into powerful resistance for the survival of their culture and legacy, against foreign forces seeking the erasure of their land, lives and history.