Little by Little
dir. Jean Rouch · 1970
Feature
Cultural Dislocation
Mood
Whimsical / Comedic
Look
vibrant, documentary-like realism with a touch of surrealism
Structure
episodic vignettes reflecting daily life
Plot
An African travels to Paris to learn about the construction of tall buildings, but is soon taken up with the oddities of French life.
Why watch
An African man arrives in Paris, eager to learn about the construction of tall buildings, but soon finds himself entangled in the whimsical oddities of French life. Watching this film feels like wandering through a vibrant cityscape, where each encounter reveals the humor and absurdity of cultural dislocation.
Cultural context
post-colonial perspectives1970s Parisian lifecultural exchange between Africa and Europe