Indochine (1920s) – Anon

Woodcarving – a typical scene from the Pathé magazine series, ‘Indochine’ that appeared regularly through the 1920s.

6:38 mins., b&w, silent

Production :  Pathé Frères

Source : Gaumont-Pathé Archives, file no. CM1673

Throughout the 1920s, Pathé produced a series of short films of around 6 minutes, which, under the general title, Indochine, offered a series of scenes of life around the French colonies in Southeast Asia. Although Europeans might occasionally appear in these films, they were mostly about the life of the local people. The technical and aesthetic standards of these magazine films were generally high.

In this film, offered here as an example, the principal theme is of local arts and crafts: a traditional form of fishing with nets, embroidery, wood carving and finally, a brick factory.

© 2018 Paul Henley