THE MEDEVACUEES

by Olivier Gresse
2016 – 56 minutes – France / New Caledonia

Every year hundreds of "medevacuees", for "medical evacuees", affected with serious pathologies which can't be treated on the Caledonian territory, are sent to Sydney to have treatment. Parachuted into a complete unknown world, a big, modern, Anglo-Saxon and English-speaking city – they live away from their family, sometimes for several months.
In the Beautemps-Beaupré pension the "Stone" lives again in a foreign country. A "model" Caledonia where social and ethnic barriers have disappeared and where solidarity and friendship links are created little by little. Time oscillates between the emergency of the Medevac arrival and the more static life in the pension.

A Les Films de la pluie, Duol Productions, France Télévisions – NC 1ère, Lyon Capitale TV, Ânûû-rû Âboro coproduction
With the participation of le CNC, with the support of la PROCIREP - Société des producteurs, and l'ANGOA, of la Province Nord, of la Province Sud & of the New Caledonia Government

In the collection "Lumière of the Pacific"

Direction: Olivier Gresse
Image & sound: Olivier Gresse
Editing: Karine Germain
Sound editing: Thomas Besson
Sound mixing: Carryl Chitty
Colour grading: Olivier Dassonville
Music: Jean-François Cavro