Off the coast of Madagascar, the Nosy-Lava Island prison built in 1911 still functions as prison from the past. The model system from the French colonial period has been continued by the Madagascan state despite the fact that independence came in 1960. It is in the prison that the last inmates, some of whom were sentenced by the French authorities in 1960, live out their lives totally forgotten and with no hope for the future.

The repressive system at Nosy-Lava means they are kept there as imprisoned convicts yet in a state of semi-freedom. All their efforts go to finding a job that will enable them to eat to their fill, as the authorities do not supply them with food. Some are fed and helped by the island’s inhabitants, who have accepted them as part of the community. Some of the convicts have even completed their prison sentence long ago.

Further to the diffusion of this documentary, the President of the Republic of Madagascar pardoned all the convicts of Nosy-Lava. Number of them stayed on the island and survives with the villagers.

Albert Londres Prize 2000.
Best documentary award (Montreal 2000).
Jury Special Mention of the International independants award North-South Media Festival (Geneva 2000)
Mention African Film Festival(Milan 2000).

Coproduction:
with the CRRAV and C9 Television.
Distribution:
TELE IMAGE INTERNATIONAL.
With the participation:
the Region Nord Pas-de-Calais, the Television Nationale de Madagascar, the Ministère des Affaires Étrangères (Cooperation and Francophonie), the Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication (D.A.I), the Gsara (Bruxelles), the FAVI, the Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC).
With the support of:
The Development and Cooperation Direction (Switzerland), The European Community “for a better understanding of the world in development”.