It's the story of a man among the other men, a communist who only had one obsession: give back the right to choose their own destiny to the colonized people. When Germany invaded France in 1940, M. Manville left his native Martinique to defend what he considered, at that time, his homeland. But 10 years later, when Algeria claimed its independence, it was against that very same France he had to defend, as a lawyer, the FLN mujaheddin prisoners. Becoming aware of his status as a colonized individual, he consequently decided to fight for the independence of Martinique, Guadeloupe and Guyana.
By means of bombs, conferences, proceeding and by tracking colonialism in its slightest expressions, the militant-lawyer "tirelessly started walking day and night in search of man", as Franz Fanon said, his fight and hope companion. In the anti-colonial struggle, if one single name had to be remembered, it would be "Marcel Manville".
More than a lawyer, he was a man engaged in one of the greatest battles of the twentieth century: the right of colonized peoples to self-determination. By arms, court battles, fighting for land, claims and other actions of awareness, Marcel Manville will be the spearhead of this struggle in Martinique and in all French departments overseas.
This film paints a sensitive portrait of this man, whose career reflects the great questions that have been shaking the Caribbean since the 40's.

A film by Véronique KANOR

Martinique, 2005, Documentary, 54 min

Prod : Les productions de La Lanterne