Description
A LITTLE CORNER OF THE PLANET
A documentary written and directed by Laurence Guérault and co-produced by France Télévisions, France 3 Franche-Comté and Les Films dans la Lune production company.
<big>Presentation</big>
The village of Rotalier in the Jura region.
After their parents retired, the Labet children decided to team up to take over the family business and launch the conversion to organic production.
For Julien, Charline and Romain, this of course meant broadening their scope of business, but they were also faced with a number of new challenges.
Their dreams and way of life, like the wines they seek to create, tell the simple story of a little corner of the planet, with nothing added...
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Teaser of the documentary "A little corner of the planet " (6'27")
<big>An extract from the statement of intent from the film's director, Laurence Guérault</big>
_«“Many films about wine conclude with the following phrase: "A wine is a combination of a terroir, a grape variety and the subjectivity of a winemaker".
That is exactly where Un Petit Bout de Planète* begins...
Un Petit Bout de Planète is all about a family of winemakers, their seasonal workers and friends.
We discover their deeply woven roots in the land, how they nurture the vines, their relationships with others, their concerns and what they seek to achieve...
Being part of a generation, which I believed to have lost its instinctive relationship with the elements, steam-rollered by industrialization and the strive for productivity, I realised, when I met this family, that they are the worthy heirs of a legacy. So deeply attached to their land, demanding, inquisitive and generous, they have decided to rise to the challenge by creating wines that reflect what they represent, and as naturally as possible.
They believe that winemaking is about reuniting heaven and earth. Each wine tells the story of a little corner of the planet...
Childhood memories, social relationships and responsibilities mingle with earth’s natural cycles: generations are born and grow up in harmony with the seasons.
After working for fifteen years as first assistant director, I took a director training course at the Varan documentary film workshops. I strongly believe in direct cinema, therefore, it was important for me to make the camera ‘invisible’ and immerse in the surroundings as much as possible, to film the simple reality in natural lighting.
I love films that enable people to reveal their inner feelings and express questions about issues... I love films with a meaning, films capable of conveying the fragility of an instant.
In some respects, the destiny of this family is very much intertwined with our own. In such a fast-moving world, where trends come and go and where everything is “disposable”, there are still people who choose to ignore the purely material aspects of life, taking the risk of expressing a different kind of identity and feeling totally free..."._
Laurence Guérault
<big>The Labet family partnership</big>
Julien, Charline and Romain are driven by a common desire to “create things together”. Their aim is to continue in the footsteps and further improve what their grandfather initially created, followed by their father and their mother Josy, who built the winery’s reputation.
While large financial groups are buying up domains, sterilising the environment, introducing yeasts, tannins and exogenous aromas to better control production, the Labet family are determined to take the opposite direction. Their production contains no artificial additives, no inputs and no miracle formula, in fact, nothing about their production is systematic. In their cellar, they are prepared to welcome the unexpected. With a keen eye for a sparkle, or the hint of a veil, they capture every fleeting detail, watching closely to discover the characteristics of each wine.
The Labets carefully control all operations, working rapidly, but relying simply on their senses and their creativity: they taste, observe, reflect and ask questions...
At that point, time stands still while they concentrate on their task, before finally rejoicing in the unexpected. By combining their efforts, they hope to gain the freedom to produce wines that reflect their own personality, and to do so naturally. Secretly, they are also actively reviving a childhood dream, when life was about joy and sharing.
<tt>Julien Labet</tt>
Julien is quite a character.... It is quite easy to recognise him from a distance. You can see him racing around, with his schoolboy looks and lanky figure flying by in 50’s style short pants.
His roots remain deeply entrenched in the land and farming is in his blood, every passing emotion is captured with ease.
In 2003, he decided to leave the family estate in search of his own wines.
In his profession, Julien is both the keeper of the land, a craftsman in search of the noblest grapes, a teacher and a poet who shares his knowledge, a scientist who experiments, observes and corrects his methods, and inevitably, an entrepreneur too, all combined in one.
<tt>Romain Labet</tt>
He was always at his father’s side, tending to the vines and he is also the quietest member of the family. People say that Romain is the one with the best character; he is easy-going, discreet and independent. He trained in biodynamics and is an expert on the subject of vines.
<tt>Charline Labet</tt>
Charline is a young woman who is passionate about her profession and who defends hers ideas. She especially likes the manual and sensory aspects of her job and hates the idea of a world stripped of all identities and expertise.
Within their partnership, it is mainly Charline’s job to take care of the wines.
The production company, Les Films dans la Lune, was founded in 2006. It began by producing documentaries on European cultures of the past, describing what has become of them in today’s modern world. The company also produces music under the jazz label “Derry Dol Records”.
The film "Un Petit Bout de Planète", by Laurence Guérault, is the third film produced for the France Télévisions group.
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Describe your project goal
<big>This film cannot be financed without your support!</big>
After sending several requests and chasing hard after the different organisations that could have helped us or joined together to produce this project, only the French National Cinema and Moving Image Centre (CNC) granted us their support. We contacted various Ministries, interprofessional organisations, regional and departmental governing bodies, cultural and tourist institutions and other organisations that share in our concerns but they ALL said “NO!”, due to a lack of.... funding! Logically, the film production should have ended there…
However, we also decided to say NO: Un Petit Bout De Planète will be produced, whatever it takes!
We have already reduced the budget, but we still have to find an extra 12,000 € to complete this documentary. The first stage of funding, which we hope to achieve with Fundovino, will help us finish shooting, but we still need to find funding for editing and post-production. Therefore, we need a minimum of 6,400 € to pursue this marvellous adventure, and 12,800 € to complete the project.
Without your help, we will not be able to do it! We can only raise such funds with your help and participation.
We have fixed a number of funding phases, or major milestones that we need to reach to complete the documentary:
Phase 1: 6,400 € (to finish shooting the documentary). This is the amount we have fixed to open the campaign.
Phase 2: 9,400 € (with 3,000 € to finish editing).
Phase 3: 12,800 € (with 3,400 € to cover post-production of the film in Strasbourg: sound mixing, calibration and titling, including accommodation expenses and transport).
<big>How can you help us ?</big>
By donating online of course, but also by promoting our project to others! Please share and post your comments on social networks... As they say, you heard it through the grapevine!