ARTAFRICAHow did you manage to construct the specific space for the political conversation that
occurs between Farraj and yourself?
In the beginning, it was not easy to discuss politics together. When I first went back to Egypt
after the revolution, in March 2011, he was speaking about Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, using all the
rhetoric of the old regime. I was clearly on the other side, quite enthusiastic about the revolution,
so at first the discussions were hesitant and a bit ridiculous, because we didn’t understand each
other at all. Despite this problem, we set out to create a space for conversation between the two
of us where we could advance in our reflections on all the events.
What projects are you working on at the moment? Do you plan to go back and continue
the story of Farraj and his family?
I have ideas that will take me back to work in Egypt, perhaps revisiting this family and the
village, while also exploring the surrounding countryside. I have become very close to Farraj and
his family so I will continue to go back to visit them regardless of whether we make another film
together. Farraj and I presented the film together in Cairo and he might come to France for the
film’s release here. I think that would be a beautiful adventure for him and for me. So, I can’t say
for sure, but I may continue working around the family, particularly focusing on the children. It
would be interesting to see how they appropriate the questions raised during the revolution, and
how these questions come out as they grow up.
CARTHAGE FILM FESTIVAL / IN CONVERSATION WITH ANNA ROUSSILLON 20/20
FEATURE / CARTHAGE FILM FESTIVALAnna Roussillon, stills from Je Suis Le Peuple, 2014. Image: Anna Roussillon. Sound: Terence Meunier, Anna
Roussillon. Edit: Saskia Berthold and Chantal Piquet. Production: Narratio Films, Haut les mains Productions.
Distribution: Docks 66. Duration: 1h51. All images courtesy of Anna Roussillon.