Journey to the South

In this compelling poetic documentary about an unsolved murder in a tiny mountain village in France, Daniels’ female filmmaker/flâneur escapes from the stress of city life to wander the streets and towns of the French Riviera. Her camera affectionately observes rich French tourists, asylum seekers, elderly communists and local inhabitants. When she hears about the death of Pierre, the young murdered shepherd she meets his family and friends and hears their stories about his life and death, but does not attempt to solve his murder. Instead, she imagines the voices of the dead short-story writer, Katherine Mansfield and her struggle to create art, and Pierre’s voice reflecting on the need to bear witness to violence. Daniels’ film is a rich meditation on past and present, on life and death, on creativity and what it means to be a human being.