8 MARS, PORTRAITS DE FEMME
édition 2024
Discover a series in 8 episodes accompanied by 8 actresses to pay tribute to the forgotten women of our History on the occasion of International Women's Rights Day.
Florence Kelley
This woman forgotten by history was played by Margaux Rinaldi
Florence Kelley (1859–1932) was an influential American social reformer and activist known for her work on behalf of workers' rights, particularly women and children. She was a key figure in the Progressive Movement and played a central role in the creation of labor laws. Kelley served as the executive director of the National Consumers League, where she advocated for fair working conditions, minimum wages, and limited working hours. She also contributed to the fight against child labor, helping to establish laws to protect young workers.
Gerda Taro
Gerda Taro (1910-1937) was a war photographer and pioneer in the field of photojournalism. Born Gerta Pohorylle in Germany, she fled the Nazi regime to France, where she met and collaborated with the famous photographer Robert Capa, her partner. Together, they covered the Spanish Civil War, where Taro took pictures of the fighting and the daily lives of soldiers and civilians. She is recognized for her courage and commitment to documenting the horrors of war. Tragically, Gerda Taro died in 1937, at the age of 26, from injuries sustained in an air raid during the Battle of Brunete in Spain, making her one of the first female photojournalists to die on the front lines.
This woman forgotten by history was played by Blandine Lagorce.
Naziq Al-Abid
Naziq al-Abid (1887-1959) was a Syrian activist, a pioneer in the struggle for women's rights and national independence.
She was one of the first women in Syria to campaign for gender equality and women's education. She founded several organizations and schools aimed at improving the status of women and promoting their role in society. In 1919, she established the Syrian Ladies' Association to help orphans and women in need. In addition to her work for women's rights, Naziq al-Abid was a prominent figure in the Syrian nationalist movement. She played an active role in the struggle against the French occupation and participated in the Great Syrian Revolt of 1925–1927. Her political commitment led to her being exiled several times, but she continued to fight for independence and social justice throughout her life.
This woman forgotten by history was played by Anne-Fleur Andrle
Rigoberta Menchù
Rigoberta Menchú (born 1959) is a Guatemalan Quiché indigenous activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1992. She is known for her commitment to indigenous peoples' and women's rights, as well as her fight against the oppression and injustices suffered by indigenous communities in Guatemala during the Guatemalan Civil War.
Born into a peasant family, she experienced the brutality of the civil war from a young age, losing several family members to military repression. She became involved in the indigenous rights movement, seeking to draw international attention to the atrocities committed against her people.
In 1992, Rigoberta Menchú received the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of her efforts for social justice and ethno-cultural reconciliation based on respect for the rights of indigenous peoples. Since then, she has continued to work for indigenous rights, peace and social justice, both in Guatemala and internationally.
This woman forgotten by history was played by Laure.
Elvira Notari
Elvira Notari (1875-1946) was an Italian film director, screenwriter and producer, considered one of the pioneers of Italian cinema. Born in Salerno, she founded the production company Dora Film with her husband, Nicola Notari, in Naples. Active mainly during the first decades of the 20th century, she directed over 60 feature films and around 100 short films between 1906 and 1929. She was distinguished by her realistic and often provocative approach, addressing social themes such as poverty, injustice, and local mores. She often chose to film in natural settings, capturing the daily life of the working-class neighborhoods of Naples, and staging stories inspired by Neapolitan culture and popular song. Elvira Notari was a key figure in the development of silent cinema in Italy, but like many female cinema pioneers, her work was largely forgotten after her death. In recent years she has been rediscovered and celebrated as a pioneer of Italian cinema and a unique voice in the history of world cinema.
This woman forgotten by history was played by Pauline.
Sarojini Naidu
Sarojini Naidu (1879-1949) was a poet, Indian independence activist and influential political figure, playing a major role in the Indian independence movement under Mahatma Gandhi.
Born in Hyderabad, she showed an exceptional talent for literature from an early age, publishing her first collection of poems, "The Golden Threshold" , in 1905. Her poems, written in English, are famous for their evocation of the beauty and culture of India.
In addition to her literary career, Sarojini Naidu was a staunch political activist. She joined the Indian National Congress and became a close associate of leaders like Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. She actively participated in the civil disobedience and non-cooperation movements against British colonial rule.
This woman forgotten by history was played by Emilie.
Wangari Maathai
Wangari Maathai (1940–2011) was a Kenyan environmental activist, biologist and politician, renowned for her work on environmental issues and women's rights. In 2004, she became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for "her contributions to sustainable development, democracy and peace" .
In 1977, she founded the Green Belt Movement , a non-governmental organization focused on tree planting, environmental conservation, and promoting women's rights. Under her leadership, the movement planted tens of millions of trees in Africa, helping to combat deforestation, soil erosion, and water scarcity.
Wangari Maathai was also a staunch advocate for human rights and democracy. She often clashed with the Kenyan government, suffering arrests and attacks for her activism.
This forgotten woman from history was played by Priscilla Gore.
Nettie Stevens
Nettie Stevens (1861-1912) was an American geneticist and biologist, best known for her discovery of the sex chromosomes that determine the sex of individuals. Her work was fundamental to modern genetics and contributed significantly to our understanding of developmental biology.
Working with insects, especially beetles, she observed that males and females had different combinations of chromosomes. She identified what she called "X and Y chromosomes," demonstrating that the presence of these chromosomes determines the sex of an organism: females have two X chromosomes (XX) and males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome (XY).
This discovery, published in 1905, proved that sex was determined by genetic factors and not by environmental influences, as previously believed. Despite the late recognition of his work, Stevens did not receive a major award during his lifetime, and his colleague Thomas Hunt Morgan, who later received the Nobel Prize for related work, did not always fully recognize his contribution.
This woman forgotten by history was played by Luz.
