Young men come from abroad or poached from their homes close by, swelter in the Djibouti sun, staring out at the ocean’s mirage. The same bodies that dance a choreographed routine in the desert also tire as they practice military drills. Largely considered her opus, Claire Denis’ Beau Travail (1999) loosely adapts  a tale of envy and wrath from Herman Melville’s “Billy Budd”, all the while weaving France’s colonial reputation from the 20th century. Join your hosts Krishiv and Erich as they serve the good cause and join the rhythm of the night, in consideration of the liminality, geopolitics, and subtext that dominate the film, and indeed this legendary filmmaker's career!

Girish Shambu's Essay: A Cinema of Sensation