La Veille (The Visit)
Donation protected
A sweeping journey through the wetlands, backroads, bayous, and sleepy towns of Cajun country, "La Veille" is cultural and psychological journey dealing with Creole French, and whether this fading tradition is worth preserving. Told through the eyes of Louisiana native Marshall Woodworth, he recounts his childhood when boucheries, couchon de laits, and Creole French were a more a dominant cultural force. Within the span of twenty years he has seen this ancient form of French (a blend of Canadian, Creole, Cajun, and Plantation Fench) nearly disappear with only a handful of elders still fluently speaking today.
Woodworth focuses his narrative on three people, each representing different aspects of the culture. The older is Carl Steven from Hessmer, LA (along with his best friend Camille Gauthier), a self-made man with his own crawfish ponds, acres for hunting and fishing, and owner of a construction company. The middle is Jourdon Thibodeaux, a singer/songwriter in Cypress Island who speaks fluent Creole French with his daughters. He witnesses a change in the older one's accent after enrolling her in the French Immersion program. At 32 he is lead singer of the band Jourdan Thibodeaux et Les Rôdailleurs. The youngest is Katelyn Deculus from Mamou. She is a determined and hard working 27 year old who juggles a delicate balance between working, full-time student, while teaching herself fiddle and Creole French. Her grand-parents, who had to go to school to learn English, speak about how English has dominated the culture through the years.
This delightful and profound journey through the traditions and charismatic characters of Louisiana is lit with emotion and dynamic cinematogeraphy by Brian Tarney. Woodworth interviews a rich range of elders, teachers of the French Immersion program, sociologists, psychologists, CODOFIL members (Council of the Development of French in Louisiana), and the key to Creole French's survival - musicians. Should we preserve this language before it disappears completely?
The funds will be used to support a 3 person crew, equipment, travel, food, and lodging to enable the filmmakers to shoot and edit within a year (release date of January 2019).
"This is a culmination of my life's experiences and with the release of this film, I hope to convince the Louisiana Government to allocate state funds to preserving our beautiful language and teach our children this Louisiana heritage", Woodworth explained.
We deeply appreciate any amount you can contribute and we hope you can join us in restoring Cajun French for the younger generations!
Woodworth focuses his narrative on three people, each representing different aspects of the culture. The older is Carl Steven from Hessmer, LA (along with his best friend Camille Gauthier), a self-made man with his own crawfish ponds, acres for hunting and fishing, and owner of a construction company. The middle is Jourdon Thibodeaux, a singer/songwriter in Cypress Island who speaks fluent Creole French with his daughters. He witnesses a change in the older one's accent after enrolling her in the French Immersion program. At 32 he is lead singer of the band Jourdan Thibodeaux et Les Rôdailleurs. The youngest is Katelyn Deculus from Mamou. She is a determined and hard working 27 year old who juggles a delicate balance between working, full-time student, while teaching herself fiddle and Creole French. Her grand-parents, who had to go to school to learn English, speak about how English has dominated the culture through the years.
This delightful and profound journey through the traditions and charismatic characters of Louisiana is lit with emotion and dynamic cinematogeraphy by Brian Tarney. Woodworth interviews a rich range of elders, teachers of the French Immersion program, sociologists, psychologists, CODOFIL members (Council of the Development of French in Louisiana), and the key to Creole French's survival - musicians. Should we preserve this language before it disappears completely?
The funds will be used to support a 3 person crew, equipment, travel, food, and lodging to enable the filmmakers to shoot and edit within a year (release date of January 2019).
"This is a culmination of my life's experiences and with the release of this film, I hope to convince the Louisiana Government to allocate state funds to preserving our beautiful language and teach our children this Louisiana heritage", Woodworth explained.
We deeply appreciate any amount you can contribute and we hope you can join us in restoring Cajun French for the younger generations!
Organizer
Marshall Woodworth
Organizer
New Orleans, LA
