Journal of Film Preservation - FIAF
Journal of Film Preservation - FIAF
Journal of Film Preservation - FIAF
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to instituting and promoting a broad political and social agenda that<br />
tied notions <strong>of</strong> physical well-being to systematic hygienic practices.<br />
In their popular feature-length film Itto (Benoît-Lévy and Marie<br />
Epstein, 1934), Benoît-Lévy and Marie Epstein address the<br />
introduction <strong>of</strong> French medical assistance to Morocco. <strong>Film</strong>ed on<br />
location in the Atlas mountains, the exotic landscape served as the<br />
mise-en-scène for a story <strong>of</strong> forbidden love and tribal rivalry that<br />
serves as a counterpoint to the “great works” <strong>of</strong> French colonial<br />
humanism. The film features Pierre Darrieu, an exemplary agent <strong>of</strong><br />
French medical expertise, who has been assigned to lead medical<br />
campaigns throughout the Atlas Mountains. Having been introduced<br />
to a Berber village by French soldiers who were being held hostage,<br />
Darrieu proves his powers <strong>of</strong> healing to the local population by<br />
saving their sheep herd from the ravages <strong>of</strong> an epidemic. As the true<br />
scientific healer, in opposition to the local sorcerers who appear<br />
intermittently throughout the film, Darrieu consistently demonstrates<br />
his magical abilities to heal the sick.<br />
Itto is named for the daughter <strong>of</strong> the Moroccan resistance fighter<br />
Hamou El Amrar. The story is based on this legendary figure who<br />
fought against French pacification efforts between 1914-1920. Itto’s<br />
lover, Miloud, is the son <strong>of</strong> the leader from a neighbouring tribe.<br />
Itto’s relationship to Miloud, though tolerated at first, is subsequently<br />
forbidden by Itto’s father, once it has been established that Miloud’s<br />
tribe entered into a truce agreement with the French. Itto and<br />
Miloud consummate their love and attempt to elope together, but are<br />
stopped by Hamou’s men, who wound Miloud and return Itto to her<br />
father. Miloud is then picked up by a French patrol squadron and is<br />
nursed back to health by Darrieu. During this time, Itto’s pregnancy<br />
comes to term and she gives birth to a baby girl in difficult<br />
circumstances.<br />
Another newborn now appears when Françoise, Darrieu’s wife, has a<br />
child who, in narrative terms, equalises the loss <strong>of</strong> her brother Jean<br />
in a desert skirmish. Jean had introduced Darrieu to Françoise in the<br />
opening segment <strong>of</strong> the film and the symbolic exchange <strong>of</strong> her<br />
brother for the newborn represents Françoise’s initiation into the<br />
perils <strong>of</strong> humanitarian French colonial frontiersmanship. Shortly<br />
thereafter, Itto’s daughter falls ill and the servant girl, Aïcha, suggests<br />
that the “white sorcerer” examine the child. After walking all night<br />
with the child, Aïcha arrives at the souk where Darrieu makes his<br />
weekly rounds. Darrieu determines that Itto’s daughter has<br />
diphtheria and inoculates her with the vaccine. When a diphtheria<br />
epidemic ensues, Darrieu is sought out by other mothers from the<br />
region.<br />
Meanwhile, the stockpile <strong>of</strong> diphtheria vaccine, mistaken for crates <strong>of</strong><br />
ammunition by Hamou’s men, is stolen in a raid on a nearby French<br />
supply depot. With no serum left, Darrieu’s own newborn child<br />
becomes infected by diphtheria and Darrieu is resigned to waiting for<br />
the arrival <strong>of</strong> more serum. It begins to snow. When the stolen serum<br />
21 <strong>Journal</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Film</strong> <strong>Preservation</strong> / 63 / 2001