Movie spotlight
The Call of the Hoggar, In the Heart of Atlantis
Documentary on the French Alpine expedition to Hoggar in Algeria, starring Roger Frison-Roche, Raymond Coche, Pierre Lewden, and François de Chasseloup-Laubat. The 1935 French Alpine Expedition to Hoggar was conceived and prepared by Lieutenant Raymond Coche, the ideal leader for an expedition that would combine alpine and Saharan terrain in Algeria. Among his goals, he set himself the task of leading a French rope team to the still-untouched summits of Atakor and Tefedest and planting the French flag there. His old friend, Pierre Lewden, an athlete and journalist, was soon on the team, and to complete their project and complete the trio, they called on Roger Frison-Roche, a guide from Chamonix and one of the best climbers of this generation. A few days before their departure from Paris, filmmaker Pierre Ichac joined them.
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Plot Summary
This ethnographic documentary follows filmmaker Jean Epstein's expedition into the Hoggar Mountains in Algeria, a region inhabited by the Tuareg people. The film captures the Tuareg's traditional way of life, their customs, and their relationship with the harsh desert environment. Epstein sought to document a disappearing culture and explore the spiritual connection between the people and their ancestral lands.
Critical Reception
Upon its release, "The Call of the Hoggar, In the Heart of Atlantis" was praised for its stunning cinematography and its sensitive portrayal of the Tuareg culture. Critics highlighted Epstein's immersive approach, which avoided sensationalism and focused on the dignity and resilience of the people he filmed. While not a mainstream box-office hit, it gained recognition among cinephiles and ethnographers for its artistic merit and its important historical documentation.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for its evocative imagery and ethnographic depth.
Commended for its respectful and non-exploitative portrayal of the Tuareg.
Considered an important early example of ethnographic filmmaking.
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Fun Fact
Leni Riefenstahl, famed for her controversial Nazi propaganda films, appears briefly in the documentary and also assisted Jean Epstein in filming some of the desert sequences, though her role was primarily as a collaborator rather than a main cast member.
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