IDFA 2017
Yves' Promise
Yves' Versprechen
Melanie Gärtner
Germany
2017
79 min
World Premiere
Cameroonian Yves Matouo has spent eight years searching for a better life in Europe. Filmmaker Melanie Gaertner first met him in Spain after he arrived by rubber boat seeking asylum. He was rejected and sent back. A year later, he calls Gaertner again. She films him on a Moroccan beach where he wants to make another attempt. He explains what drove him to leave his country and those people dear to his heart. Gaertner realizes that while he knows what awaits him, he’s still willing to risk it all again. To better understand his motives, she travels to Cameroon to meet Yves’ family and best friend and brings video messages from Yves to reestablish contact. These are emotional moments filled with mixed feelings. They understand that Yves wants to escape the poverty and corruption, but still very much want to see him again. But can Yves return without having achieved success? Meanwhile, Gaertner keeps meeting up with him to see how things are going.
Credits
Cinematography
Pola Sell,
Melanie Gärtner
Pola Sell,
Melanie Gärtner
Editing
Christine Niehoff,
Mirja Gerle
Christine Niehoff,
Mirja Gerle
World Sales
Deckert Distribution GmbH
Deckert Distribution GmbH
Screening copy
Deckert Distribution GmbH
Deckert Distribution GmbH
Sound
Roger Mboupda,
Romeo Zaf
Roger Mboupda,
Romeo Zaf
Music
Ludwig Kuckartz,
Siriki Coulibaly
Ludwig Kuckartz,
Siriki Coulibaly
Director