The synopsis: Following a cockfighting bet, a man named Viézo (played by Christophe Rangoly), better known as ‘Papa Slam’, gambles his only daughter.

Conflictual parent-child relationships

Viézo and his daughter Victorine have a complex relationship, filled with both tenderness and resentment related to his drinking habits and the death of her mother fifteen years prior. She protects him from his old demons (alcohol and cockfighting). The breaking point comes when she learns that she was the subject of a cockfighting bet. She decides to cut ties, but quickly comes back to save her father. One of Viézo’s last lines at the end of the film is ‘I didn’t win, I just didn’t want to lose you.’ I found this line beautiful and full of love. We also understand that Chabin’s relationship with his deceased father is complex from the beginning of the film when he says ‘I am not my father.’ He tries his best to detach himself from the (too) present image of a father who was very tough on his son but who passed on to him his sneaky and cunning side…

A film with local colors

Zépon is deeply rooted in our Martinican universe, from the first few minutes where we hear Bwa Brilé by Eugène Mona, the tone is set… Zépon is a Martinican-Martinican film. Throughout the film, Creole proverbs are displayed, some of which were completely unknown to me, such as “Nonm pa ka soulé Karaf”, “Ti moun pa ti chodye”, “Bal fini violon dan sac”. Some characters are only called by their nicknames like “Viézo” or “Chabin”, a reference to the fact that the nickname or sobriquet is a fundamental element of our intangible heritage. Who doesn’t know someone in their circle with a nickname whose real name has been forgotten ? Already, the title of the film Zépon refers to the spurs of fighting cocks and to the universe of cockpits, a strong element of our Martinican culture. It is a multi-century tradition (fighting cocks were introduced to the islands by colonizers). Viézo, the father, is the best cockfighting master in Martinique, envied by Chabin, the bad boy, handsome guy (Vincent Vermignon) in the film or the Majô as we say here, who maintains a rivalry dating back to the time of his deceased father (the latter having won a piece of land following a bet with Viézo, he had not supported the fact that Victorine’s mother had chosen Viézo).

The Supernatural: A Reflection of Martinican Imagination

Our Martinican culture is also based on the supernatural, mythical creatures such as dorlis or soucougnans, and magico-religious rituals. The little neighbor is afraid of supernatural creatures when he accompanies Victorine at night to Chabin’s house. We understand that she practices quimbois with voodoo dolls when a customer approaches her to ask for a remedy for her neighbor (herself) who has a problem with her husband’s organization (meaning erection!). I found this scene hilarious! The deceased are also present: Victorine’s mother in a white dress at the river telling her the story of her birth in the form of tales, and Chabin’s father, angry to see his interest in Viézo’s daughter and reproaching him for dishonoring his family’s name. I notice that ghosts are a quite recurrent theme in Caribbean cinema.

Humor

Finally, Zépon is also a film with a humorous touch, especially with the little neighbor who is a squatter and a fan of Marius Trésor (a surprising reference for his young age) and whose parents are never seen. There are also references to Rocky Balboa during the cock’s training, running behind a car, or to Westerns when the rival protagonists look at each other; these looks create a comic effect, especially thanks to the actors’ performances. I admit, I laughed a lot during the movie.

Special mention to two actresses whom I love: our Queen Jocelyne Béroard (who plays Titine, a kind-hearted and determined substitute mother for Victorine), discovered as an actress in the movie Siméon directed by Euzhan Palcy, which I saw when I was 9 years old during an educational outing. I think it is also at that time that my passion for cinema was born. And Daniely Francisque, a talented actress and director who plays the role of Victorine’s deceased mother.

Therefore, I hope I have been able to take you on a journey with me into the universe of Zépon, a movie to be seen absolutely at Madiana right now! Let’s support our Martinican cinema because culture is the affair of an entire people!