Childhood-a new life in les Petites Familles
Documentary 90 ‘, 2014
Written and directed by: Lucienne Lanaz
Camera: Patrick Bürge; Deborrah Porret
Sound: Gregor Baumann; Katharina Bhend
Editing: Charles D. Fischer, Lucienne Lanaz, Edwige Ochsenbein
Animation: Stéphanie Pfister
Music: Francois Gaudard, the heart of children Sakaziq ‘- Andrée Oriet
Production: JURA-FILMS, Grandval “contact”
With the support of : Fondation romande pour le cinéma l Pro Cinéma Berne l Swisslos l Conseil du Jura bernois l Sandoz Family Office l Fondation Suisse de la Réformation l Association des Petites Familles l Fondation Carré d’Art l Conseil synodal des églises réformées Berne-Jura-Soleure l Marc-Albert Braillard l République et Canton du Jura l Soroptimist International l Club Biel-Bienne l Ville de Moutier l La Poste l Ville de Bienne l Municipalité de Grandval l Commune mixte de Belprahon l Commune mixte de Corcelles l Mémoire d’ici l École de musique du Jura bernois.
Synopsis
With the action undertaken by the Petites Familles Association, “Childhood – A New Life in Les Petites Familles“ is a reminder how essential it is for a child’s development to have a good education, a regular and stable way of life where it feels loved. “Petites Familles” is the name given to these foster homes in the bernese Jura, where a couple of parents take in children deprived of a proper family setting. Lucienne Lanaz’s documentary sets out to discover these homes, meets the parents in charge and is present at the arrival of new young boarders.
A big part is also allocated to the descriptions by former foster parents and boarders who have become adults. A true local, social and human adventure covering several generations, enriched by a wealth of archive material the theme of which greatly surpasses the regional character. In contrast to many existing films, reporting on the deplorable conditions of children in care, emphasizing bits of unhappy lives, this film shows that fostering can be a happy experience. The importance of such a subject is universal.
Lucienne Lanaz’s statement
My village Grandval in the bernese Jura shelters one of the two foster homes run by the Petites Familles association. As I was put in care myself in my youth, I felt a particular interest in these homes that take in children whose family lives have been disturbed or broken up. So I decided to find out how they function and I met several ex foster-children who struck me each time by their flourishing. The way they developed doesn’t show in any way that they haven’t lived with their own parents.
The Petites Familles children’s homes do a fantastic job and I am convinced that in this film I can show that education, a healthy life style and affection are essential to a child’s development.
To me this goes far beyond a local setting, the importance of such a subject is universal.
