Schwestern

"Siostry" Lorraine David i Lola Pidoux

"Hermanas", de Lorraine David y Lola Pidoux

"Soeurs - Sorelle" - Di Lorraine David e Lola Pidoux

Soeurs

Sisters by Lorraine David and Lola Pidoux

Not far from the Paris ring road in the suburb of Vanves, stands the Sainte Bathilde priory. Here, twenty-two nuns live in seclusion according to the rule of Saint Benedict. Their days are punctuated by bells, prayer, and work.

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The Female Directors Documentary Competition

Meet the twenty-two nuns who live in seclusion on the outskirts of Paris

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Alexandre's relationships fill an inner void, and his unhealthy attitude to relationships has led him down the path of emotional dependence. He decided to regain his autonomy, and wean himself off of his addiction to others.

Alexandre's relationships fill an inner void and his dependency ruined his relationships and sense of self

Emotionally Dependent Anonymous by Angéla Nichon

24-year-old Anaëlle looks after 35 single men in a center for asylum seekers. She takes care of their administrative needs, their doctor's appointments and day-to-day admin. Above all, she listens to each migrant's story and then prepares them for the interview with the French asylum authority OFPRA, which decides whether to not to grant them refugee status.

24-year-old Anaëlle looks after 35 single men in a center for asylum seekers

Ana by Séraphine Charpentier-Andre

After several years abroad, entrepreneur Tiffany, 41, returned to Paris and decided to become a mum - despite being single. She had to go abroad for her treatment, as in France single women were not allowed access to assisted reproductive technology.

Tiffany, 41, returns to Paris after several years abroad and decides to have a child on her own

Bubble by Jessica Bros

Tehran, 2021. Drug addicts take part in group therapy. Day by day they learn to put their addiction into words; they find the courage to tell their story and remember the moment they made the decision to get off drugs.

Tehran, 2021. Drug addicts take part in group therapy

The Man Who Washed in the River by Marzieh Namini

French Guiana, on the border with Brazil: Ka'i aka Isabelle is a young woman from the Wayãpi tribe. She lives in her family's village growing cassava. She studied and worked in the city, but chose to go home when she got pregnant with her first child.

Ka'i is from the Wayãpi tribe. She traded in city life to live in her family's village, growing cassava

Iye Ka'i by Olivia Braconnier

Madame Pamart is 80 and she's ready to die. Her daughter, director Catherine, decides to document their journey. Her mother, suffering from multiple chronic illnesses, wants her children to help her to go to Switzerland for assisted suicide. Somewhat disturbed by her final request for help, Catherine must none the less come to terms with her choice.

Madame Pamart is 80 and she's ready to die

The Day and Hour by Catherine Pamart

L. is 15 and going through the usual teenage rebellion phase, and her mother has a plan to put a stop to it. Telling her daughter that they are going on holiday, she takes her back 'home'... and leaves her there to marry a stranger.

L is just 15 when she is tricked into being sent back 'home' where she's pressured into marrying a stranger

The Scent of France by Eve-Chems De Brouwer

"If I had to do it again, I wouldn't do it again, that's for sure." Julie, 36, regrets becoming a mum. She lives in Bordeaux with her 10-year-old daughter and her husband, Matthieu. She loves her child but motherhood is just not for her: she doesn't like kid's games, and she hates all the time constraints and responsabilities.

"If I had to do it again, I wouldn't do it again, that's for sure." Julie, 36, regrets becoming a mum

Maternal Regret by Lolita Rive

Irina lives in a squat with her boyfriend, and dog. She talks about why she ended up on the street, how she learned to do without others, and what writing means to her. She dreams of living a normal life.

Irina lives in a squat with her boyfriend and dog. She's trying to turn her life around

Nobody Owns Me by Anouk Meissner

For three years James funded his nomadic lifestyle by filming porn videos with his girlfriend. But when they break up, his personal crisis is also professional. Making videos with other women doesn't interest him: he wants to continue alone and see if his viewers will stick with him.

For three years James funded his nomadic lifestyle by filming porn videos with his girlfriend

Oh Boy by Cannelle Favier-Benito and Alice Tubert

Your life, or your breasts. For Valérie, it was no contest. When she got breast cancer, she had both breasts removed entirely and decided not to have reconstructive sugery. Instead she learnt to live with, and even love, her scars. The cancer could come back: but for now, she's happy and proud of her body.

When she got breast cancer, she had both breasts removed entirely and decided not to have reconstructive sugery

The Love Story of a Body by Lilia Lerondeau

"My mother is dead. I'm dizzy. I think of her, I think of us. This film is made up solely of archive footage. A film without special effects, raw. Tragic, tender and funny as life can be. Like memories rushing up or missing altogether, all of a sudden."

"My mother is dead. I'm dizzy. I think of her, I think of us..."

An Essay About Us by Marzena Sowa

Elana turns 18 this year. She divides her time between her life between the medical-professional institute where she is an apprentice, and her first internships in an ESAT (a protected work establishment for disabled workers). But what Elana prefers above all is escaping life on her aerial hoop...

The many facets of the life of Elana, an 18-year-old girl with a mental disability

Elana by Erika Haglund

Social housing in France has a bad reputation, and its residents often isolated by mainstream society. These girls tell of how their mothers struggled to survive, and of the strong feeling of community on the estate. But those social ties are under threat as gentrification looms. 

Girls that live in a block of social housing flats tell of how their mothers struggled to survive

The Splendid Ones by Meryem-Bahia Arfaoui

Madame C was a waistcoat maker and jacket tailor. All her life she worked as a tailor. For holidays, baptisms and weddings, she also tailored for her family. She also made all of her husband's suits, including the last one in which he was buried.

All her life Madame C made tailored suits...

Madame C by Elise Sintot

Little Rawa has been living in a camp for Syrian refugees on the northern border of Lebanon for two years. She grew up with her siblings in the camp, which is like a huge playground for her, and she doesn't want to leave. Her mother Rateebah does everything to ensure that her children do not become completely isolated from the outside world.

In Lebanon, Syrian refugee children think of their camp as a giant playground

Rawa by Camille Toulmé

Almost daily a steady stream of young girls queues up at Addis Ababa and Dhaka international airport, destination Beirut. all long for a new life abroad with promises of high wages and a good job. Yet for most that dream becomes a nightmare as they forced into prostitution or a slave-like existence as housemaids working 20 hour days without pay. A thought-provoking look of the exploitative working conditions for migrant domestic workers hired under the Kafala system in Lebanon.

A thought-provoking look of the exploitative working conditions for migrant domestic workers hired under the Kafala system in Lebanon.

The City of Others - By Roser Corella

Lene lives in a remote fjord in Iceland. For more than thirty-five years, she has been creating art with organic animal material: skins, horse hair, bones. "When a skin is tanned and ready” Lene explains, “I can feel a little bit of the life coming back”.

To life - by Stefanie Gartmann

What does being born a girl mean in the 2020s? Three women from three continents share their stories. In Japan, Kumi recounts the assaults she experienced in the Tokyo underground when she was a teenager. In Burkina Faso, Ibrahim talks about the pressure of early marriages. In France, Marie talks about the domestic violence she endured.

What does being born a girl mean in the 2020s? Three women from three continents share their stories.

Being Born a Girl by

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Since its invention in the 19th century, the bicycle has allowed Western women to move around independently. Today, it is the turn of women in Arab countries to discover its power. Though at first glance innocuous and common, the bicycle is unexpectedly feminist.

The Freedom to Cycle

Though at first glance innocuous and common, the bicycle is unexpectedly feminist

Gymnastics

Have you ever wondered why pop songs sometimes sound a little too familiar? Welcome to the world of pop-recycling where borrowing, sampling and interpolation are the order of the day. Featuring interviews with Placebo, Ed Sheeran, Charlie XCX and Lauv.

Pop Music: The Great Recycling Business

Have you ever wondered why pop songs sometimes sound a little too familiar? Welcome to the world of pop-recycling. Featuring interviews with Placebo, Ed Sheeran, Charlie XCX and Lauv.

Tracks: Songwriting Special

Why do the works of the Italian painter Caravaggio exude such violence? The answer is to be found in the eventful life of the artist, who just couldn't stay out of trouble and met a sticky end.

Caravaggio, Genius - and Killer?

Caravaggio just couldn't stay out of trouble and met a sticky end

The paintings of Vincent Van Gogh are losing their colours. The paints he used were vibrant, but cheap, and degraded within months of painting. It's now impossible to appreciate the true beauty of his works, as his flamboyant flare for colours has slowly turned drab. If nothing is done, the Sunflowers which are still a beautiful gold today could well turn brown. Should we just accept they can't be saved?

Van Gogh's Disappearing Colours

The paintings of Vincent Van Gogh are losing their colours because the pigments used were vibrant but cheap

Brilliant FBI agent and scientist Dana Scully solved supernatural mysteries with her partner Fox Mulder in the TV series The X Files. She had significant influence on an entire generation of young women, inspired to become scientists.

The Scully Effect

The X File's Dana Scully had significant influence on an entire generation of young women

Russian artists have two choices: silence, or exile. There's been a mass creative exodus in recent weeks, including Russian rap stars like Face and Oxxxymiron. Art rockers IC3PEAK post protest videos that would get them arrested in Russia. TikTok star Nikita Sass bravely continues to post his opinion and stays. Few dare to do that.

Russian Artists Against the War

Russian artists have two choices: silence, or exile

Tracks

In 1973 choreographer and dancer Carolyn Carlson brought an breath of American fresh air into the Paris Opera. In true hippy style she brought barefoot dancing, improvisation and a relaxed attitude. Not everyone was ready for change.

Carolyn Carlson: The Day They Danced Barefoot at the Paris Opera

Acrobatics, crazy sets, unobtainable beauty standards. A lot of porn often lacks realism. But the industry is changing: audio pornography, which leaves room for the imagination while arousing the listener with erotic stories. The increasingly popular medium attracts feminist women who see the medium as more sensual and empowering than traditional porn.

The Sensual World of Podcast Porn

Audio pornography leaves room for the imagination while arousing the listener with erotic stories

The humble accordion may not have a reputation as the coolest instrument on the block. But in the hands of Mario Batkovic it takes on another dimension. Since 2017 the Bosnian accordionist has been wowing audiences and recording film and game scores, notably for hit survival game, Red Dead Redemption 2.

Mario Batkovic: Superstar Accordionist

The humble accordion may not have a reputation as the coolest instrument on the block. But in the hands of Mario Batkovic it takes on another dimension.

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After two months of fighting, the Russian troops had their advance towards the West blocked by fierce Ukrainian resistance. Forced to leave the suburbs of Kyiv, the occupying army left behind mass graves and horrific accounts of rape and abuse in their wake. Russia is now turning its efforts to the Dobas and the coastline along the Sea of ​​Azov. In Kyiv, the return of spring is also the return of many residents who had fled.

 In Kyiv, the return of spring is also the return of many residents who had fled

Ukraine: Kyiv in Spring

Behind his polite exterior lies a formidable leader with a ruthless character, ready to do anything to make China the world's leading power by the People’s Republic’s centenary in 2049. This well-documented portrait of the Chinese president gives an unprecedented insight into his politics and shows how Xi Jinping's personal journey has shaped his choices as he steers China towards world domination.

A portrait of the Chinese president giving an unprecedented insight into his politics and showing how Xi Jinping's personal journey has shaped his choices as he steers China towards world domination.

The New World of Xi Jinping

The Maginot Line is a giant: Thousands of underground bunkers and concrete defences lining the French border, from Belgium to the Mediterranean. In its time it was celebrated as a technical masterpiece and thought to be impregnable, today it also stands for the trauma of the French defeat in 1940. The documentary looks at a military construction that is as fascinating as it is controversial.

France's Defensive Barrier

Thought to be impregnable, the French defensive barrier did not halt the German invasion in 1940.

The Maginot Line

Lockdowns, crop failures due to climate change and the war in Ukraine are all to blame for soaring prices around the world.

Geopolitics of Inflation

Mapping the World Essentials

Far away from the South Korean capital of Seoul is the Buddhist Gameunsa Temple. Three nuns live, pray and cook together here as they preserve the knowledge of centuries-old temple cuisine. The abbess of this small monastery is the charismatic Wookwan Sunim, revered in Asia as one of the best cooks in the world.

South Korea: Magic Temple Food

Far away from the South Korean metropolis of Seoul is the Buddhist Gameunsa Temple where three nuns live, pray and cook together 

Geo Reportage

The literary source for Richard Strauss’s opera immortalizing the degeneracy of Herodes Antipas, King of Judea, and his step-daughter Salome, was supplied by Oscar Wilde. It tells of Herodes, who is keeping the prophet Jochanaan captive inside a cistern. Salome tries to seduce him and on being rebuffed, forces her stepfather to serve her the prophet’s head on a silver platter.

Directed by Christof Loy in Helsinki

Rejected by the prophet Jochanaan, Salome forces her abusive stepfather to exact revenge.

Richard Strauss: Salome

ARTE Concert Festival welcomes a legend, Damon Albarn. He performs his new album live: The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows.

ARTE Concert Festival 2021

ARTE Concert Festival welcomes a legend, Damon Albarn

Damon Albarn

Three Japanese men have fallen under the charms of high school student Rinko, a character from the video game Love Plus. The game finally leads them to the seaside resort of Atami, where the virtual world and real life collides.

Three Japanese men have fallen under the charms of high school student Rinko, a character from the video game Love Plus

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The Supreme Court is now made of a majority of ultra-conservative judges since President Trump's term in office. The court now looks set to overturn the Roe v Wade case which gave women the constitutional right to have an abortion if they so wish or need. This worrying step backwards for women's rights doesn't mean women won't have abortions. It means they'll die trying.

Abortion: A Threatened Right

This worrying step backwards doesn't mean women won't have abortions. It means they'll die trying

Mapping the World

An investigation into a little-known story from the Second World War. Having planned and executed their mass murders, the Nazis meticulously eliminated traces of their crimes against humanity between 1942 and 1944: The so-called Operation 1005.

How the Nazis Covered up their Crimes

The Nazis meticulously eliminated traces of their crimes against humanity between 1942 and 1944: The so-called Operation 1005.

Operation 1005

In 2020, for the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth, Philippe Jordan and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra recreated the mythical evening of December 22 1808, when  the composer presented his Sixth Symphony, also known as his Pastoral.

Philippe Jordan recreates the evening of December 22, 1808, when Beethoven presented his Pastoral symphony

Philippe Jordan Conducts Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony

Ordinary Ukrainian citizens are preparing to resist the Russian invader by joining the army and helping the resistance in any way they can.

Ukraine: Resisting the Agressor

ARTE Reportage

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought the people of Kyiv together like nothing else. Calling on the spirit of the Maidan Revolution of 2014, they are ready to resist.

Ukraine: Maïdan Spirit

On May 9, Russia celebrated its victory day without a victory in Ukraine. Instead, President Putin further pushed the narrative of Russian victimhood, despite the fact that Moscow, not Kyiv, is the agressor. As the battle continues to rage, we take a look at Ukraine before and after the conflict.

Ukraine, Before and After the War

As the battle continues to rage, we take a look at Ukraine before and after the conflict

The planet's jet streams are being affected by rising temperatures in the Arctic. These streams are part of a wind system that circulates at high altitude around the Earth, and they have an influence on extreme weather events. Changes in them are bad news for life on Earth.

How Climate Change Makes Storms Worse

Changing jet streams are bad news for life on Earth

Winds of Change

Live from the Teatro Real in Madrid, an adaptation of Prokofiev’s flamboyant masterpiece by the ever-radical Calixto Bieito.

An adaptation of Sergei Prokofiev’s flamboyant masterpiece by radical director Calixto Bieito.

Prokofiev’s "The Fiery Angel" at the Teatro Real in Madrid

A breakaway region of Moldova that is not recognised internationally, Transnistria is largely pro-Russian. The war in Ukraine has awakened fears that Russia will try to annex the region.

Moldova: Transnistria and Russia

Thirty years after the end of apartheid, South Africa has still not overcome its many problems: Endemic violence, economic and racial inequalities, state corruption. However, the rainbow nation has a lot to offer: tourism, natural resources and a leadership role on the African continent.

South Africa and its Demons

The internationally renowned bassist, singer and composer Avishai Cohen performs in an exclusive concert from the Maillon theatre in Strasbourg. Accompanied by drummer Roni Kaspi and pianist Elchin Shirinov, the jazzman presents his forthcoming album Shifting Sands.

Private Session at the Maillon Theatre, Strasbourg

IThe internationally renowned bassist, singer and composer Avishai Cohen performs from his forthcoming album Shifting Sands.

The Female Directors Documentary Competition

The Female Directors Documentary Competition

Emotionally Dependent Anonymous by Angéla Nichon

The Female Directors Documentary Competition

Ana by Séraphine Charpentier-Andre

The Female Directors Documentary Competition

Bubble by Jessica Bros

The Female Directors Documentary Competition

The Man Who Washed in the River by Marzieh Namini

The Female Directors Documentary Competition

Iye Ka'i by Olivia Braconnier

The Female Directors Documentary Competition

The Day and Hour by Catherine Pamart

The Female Directors Documentary Competition

The Scent of France by Eve-Chems De Brouwer

The Female Directors Documentary Competition

Maternal Regret by Lolita Rive

The Female Directors Documentary Competition

Sisters by Lorraine David and Lola PidouxThe Female Directors Documentary Competition

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