Heroic epic shot on location in the Sahara by Jacques Feyder: a spectacular desert fantasy in which two French legionnaires get lost and end up in the lost kingdom of Atlantis. With live music by Marmoucha Orchestra.
Two French legionnaires get lost in the Sahara and end up in the lost kingdom of Atlantis, where they fall under the spell of the irresistible but cruel Queen Antinea (Stacia Napierkowska). Large parts of this two-hour-plus heroic epic were shot on location in the Sahara: Feyder took his entire cast and crew to Algeria for eight months of filming: to Touggourt to be precise, 800 kilometres south of Algiers. A daring undertaking at the time; no filmmaker had ever done such a thing before but it didn't hurt him: L'Atlantide became a global success.
The production of this film was one of the most expensive at the time. The film's distributor Louis Aubert therefore promised a publicity campaign in grand style, but also demanded the presence of a big star in the cast. That became Stacia de Napierowsca in the role of the mysterious Antinea. Her interpretation drew criticism but, as Feyder's contemporary director Louis Delluc would remark, "The real star of this film is the desert."
L'Atlantide was one of the first feature films to depict the French colonial presence in North Africa, and was followed by a series of other films made in the 1920s that mainly emphasised the romantic and exotic aspects of this colonial era. Later examples in this colonial tradition included Le bled (1929) by Jean Renoir, Le grand jeu (1934) by Feyder himself.
Marmoucha Orchestra
The Marmoucha Orchestra accompanies this performance in an intimate setting. With an innovative twist, the Marmoucha quintet revives the silent film. Enjoy an evening of passion, drama and beauty with an extraordinary musical interpretation.
The Marmoucha quintet consists of five talented musicians with diverse musical backgrounds and influences, and with a shared passion for music from the Mediterranean and SWANA region (Southwest Asia & North Africa, specifically the region from Iran to Morocco). Their music is an intriguing combination of traditional pieces and their own compositions, carefully arranged for this particular film. Maripepa Contreras, the project director and arranger, creates the film score by re-arranging her own compositions and arrangements from the wide Marmoucha repertoire. She integrates scenic spaces where the musicians have room for improvisation, making for a dynamic and emotional soundtrack.
Occupation
- Maripepa Contreras, oboe, althobo, duduk
- Mohamed Ahaddaf, old
- Adrian Moncada, piano
- Arin Keshishi, bass guitar
- Udo Demandt, percussion
English (UK) 
Nederlands 
Français 
