Festival du Cinéma muet d'Anères: The Workers of the Sea

Experience the timeless power of Victor Hugo’s *Toilers of the Sea* brought to life in this stunningly restored silent film, *Festival du Cinéma muet d'Anères: The Workers of the Sea*. Directed by André Antoine and filmed in the breathtaking coastal landscapes of Camaret-sur-mer, France, this 1918 masterpiece transports you to a world of rugged beauty and compelling drama. Witness the poignant story of a young orphaned girl, Gudule, whose life is thrown into turmoil by a drunken sailor, leading her on a journey of refuge and danger. Featuring a vibrant score by Elsa Martinez (electric guitar) and Antoine Ferris (electric bass), this film beautifully blends the classic tale with a contemporary musical sensibility. Originally conceived in response to Hugo’s novel, written in Guernsey and published in 1866, Antoine's adaptation captures the novel’s poetic atmosphere with remarkable energy. A 4K restoration, meticulously carried out in 2020 by the Jérôme Seydoux-Pathé Foundation and the Cinémathèque française, reveals the film's exquisite detail and Antoine’s masterful use of the Crozon Peninsula’s dramatic scenery and the contributions of local amateur actors. Praised by Victor Hugo’s own heir, Gustave Simon, for its “penetrating breath of poetry,” *The Workers of the Sea* is a cinematic triumph that remains as captivating today as it was a century ago.