WEST EMPIRE

Synopsis

Remnants of a bygone past, the ghost towns of the American West are steeped in history and legend. West Empire is an immersion into the heart of these towns, which were abandoned in the days of mining and where a few inhabitants still live today. In this setting of American deserts, these inhabitants lead a timeless life with one priority: the quest for freedom. Referring to their past, these men and women bear strong witness to their experience of life. In the light of these atypical encounters, the film makes us reflect on the way our modern society functions, on the passage of time and on the importance of living in the moment.

Year :

2015

PRODUCTION :

Mathieu Le Lay Productions
With KissKissBankBank contributors

team :

With Rock Novak, Walter Kremin, Daisy Reese, David Reese, Lily White
A film written & directed by Mathieu Le Lay
Cinematography : Mathieu Le Lay, Caroline Lessire
Editing : Mathieu Le Lay
Mixing : Laurent Mollard
Music : The Gentleman Losers

Duration :

26 minutes

Official selections :

‣ 25th Arizona International Film Festival, United States
‣ 8th TRT Documentary Awards, Turkey
‣ Wales International Documentary Festival, Wales
‣ XIII CRONOGRAF Festivalul International de Cinema Documentar, Moldova
‣ 10th High Desert International Film Festival, United States
‣ 56th Krakow Film Festival, Poland
‣ 18th FICA Festival Internacional de Cinema e Video Ambiental, Brazil
‣ 39th Douarnenez Gouel Ar Filmou Film Festival, France
‣ Odense International Film Festival 2016, Denmark
‣ Docutah International Documentary Film Festival 2016, United States
‣ The Annual Valley Film Festival 2016, United States
‣ Festival Atmosphères 2016, France
‣ Szczecin European Film Festival 2016, Poland
‣ 33rd Tehran International Short Film Festival, Iran
‣ 16th Festival des Escales Documentaires de La Rochelle, France
‣ Rio de Janeiro International Short Film Festival – Curta Cinema 2016, Brazil
‣ 20th OFF Cinema Festive, Poland
‣ Jahorina Film Festival 2016, Bosnia-Herzegovina
‣ Dam Short Film Festival 2017, United States
‣ FiSH – Filmfestival im StadtHafen Rostock 2017, Germany
‣ 21st Grand Bivouac d’Albertville, France

Awards :

‣ Special Jury Award Outstanding Cinematography – 25th Arizona International Film Festival, USA, 2016
‣ Best Short Film – XIII CRONOGRAF Festivalul International de Cinema Documentar, Moldova, 2016
‣ Best Cinematography – 10th High Desert International Film Festival, United States, 2016
‣ Best Documentary Short – The Annual Valley Film Festival, United States, 2016

"Trained in wildlife cinema, Mathieu Le Lay films areas that escape the grip of modernity. His "West Empire" is set in the desert of the American West, where men and women have turned their backs on consumer society, preferring to live in the middle of nowhere, in ramshackle caravans, rather than in the poor ghettos on the edge of the cities. Here, they have slipped into a tranquillity bordering on eternity.
From time to time a goods train passes by, reminding us that at the end of the line, San Francisco lights up. The director gives us plenty to enjoy in this suspended time, this new-found serenity. Here, people reclaim their lives and embrace their creativity.
They are not carefree, however, and are very concerned about the climate threat to the fragile ecosystem of the Mojave Desert, where temperatures can exceed 50°C.
In the meantime, marvellous flowers grow in the rockery and the light produces its infinite variations on the bare landscape."

MATHIEU LE LAY PRODUCTIONS presents
a film by MATHIEU LE LAY with the support of KISSBANKERS – KISSKISSBANKBANK
written, directed, edited & produced by MATHIEU LE LAY cinematography by MATHIEU LE LAY, CAROLINE LESSIRE
music by THE GENTLEMAN LOSERS mixing by LAURENT MOLLARD
with ROCK NOVAK, WALTER KREMIN, DAISY REESE, DAVID REESE, LILY WHITE