THE SULTAN OF LOVE (LA SULTANE DE L'AMOUR), 1919

France | DCP, Color | 93’
Directors: Charles Burguet, René Le Somptier
Cast: France Dhélia, Sylvio De Pedrelli, Paul Vermoyal

To restore the joy of life of the tyrannical ruler Sultan Malik, three envoys set out to find him a suitable bride. One of them, Kadjar, discovers Princess Daoulah in a neighboring kingdom; however, the young woman refuses the sultan’s proposal due to a secret she keeps. With its structure reminiscent of Eastern tales, the film brings together themes of love, desire, and power. The “One Thousand and One Nights” atmosphere, constructed in a studio in southern France, stands out through the use of the pochoir (stencil) coloring technique. The production presents the visual richness of early cinema within a representational world that reflects the West’s exoticizing and reductive view of the East.
Restoration: CNC

Live Music: Komos