Festinema Junior: Petit Pays @ Prytania Theater

A special screening of Petit Pays, a powerful adaptation of the acclaimed novel by Gaël Faye. Directed by Éric Barbier, the film takes us to Burundi in the early 1990s, on the eve of civil war and the Rwandan genocide.

Through the eyes of Gabriel, a young boy growing up in a comfortable expatriate neighborhood, we witness a childhood filled with carefree moments—bike rides, friendships, and family life—gradually overshadowed by rising ethnic tensions and political unrest. As violence creeps closer, the film delicately portrays the loss of innocence and the fragmentation of a once-peaceful world.

At once intimate and sweeping, Petit Pays explores themes of identity, exile, memory, and belonging. With its lush visuals, sensitive storytelling, and deeply human perspective, the film offers a poignant entry point into a complex chapter of African and Francophone history—making it both an emotional cinematic experience and a powerful conversation starter.

In French with English Subtitles