Venice Festival to Premiere Jean Rouch Film ‘Cousin, Cousine’

Venice Festival Premiere Jean Rouch Film — Ernesto Ruscio/Getty Images

The Venice International Film Festival has added a world premiere screening of the previously unreleased Jean Rouch film Cousin, cousine on the centennial of his birth. The film, from 1985-1987, is the only film Rouch ever made in Venice. It will debut on Sept. 7.

Cousin, cousine stars Nigerian actor Damoure Zika and Nigerian filmmaker Mariama Hima, who were in Venice in 1985 to present their film Baabu Banza. Mariama introduces Damoure to Venice, studying how gondolas are made, in a film fantasy inspired by a painting by Gentile Bellini. The film, recently restored by the French CNC, will screen in the Venice Classics section.

Jean Rouch (1917-2004), is a French ethnographer and director who made over 180 films, promoting visual anthropology through documentary filmmaking. His film Babatou, les trois conseils competed for a Palme d’Or in Cannes in 1976 and his film Dionysos was nominated for a Golden Lion in Venice in 1984. In 2001 he was awarded a career achievement award by the International Documentary Association.

The 74th Venice festival takes place Aug. 30-Sept. 9.