A documentary on this forgotten explorer born in Saint-Nazaire

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An exhibition, a documentary, a coincidence of the agenda.

Never has the explorer Odette du Puigaudeau (born in Saint-Nazaire in 1894, died in 1991 in Rabat in Morocco and spent her childhood in Le Croisic) been so much in the spotlight.

The forgotten explorer

Odette du Puigaudeau, who was a designer, stylist, fisherman, naturalist, journalist, adventurer, explorer, and passionate about Mauritania, had sunk into oblivion.

Author of articles and books on Moorish culture, her journey is totally atypical for her time, that of a woman who, with her partner, crosses the desert on the back of a camel.

The exhibition, currently presented in Saint-Nazaire, highlights the journey and work of this woman, a true celebrity in the 1930s. The documentary, “Odette du Puigaudeau, the unexpected adventurer” offers another perspective, just as interesting.

From curiosity to investigation

It was while researching the Sahara that Gérard Uginet, documentary author based in La Turballe, discovered the existence of Odette du Puigaudeau.

Its links with Saint-Nazaire and Le Croisic aroused the curiosity of the Turballais who, 6 years ago, set out in the footsteps of the explorer.

“I came across a thesis by Jeanne Sébastien devoted to colonialism and the work of Odette du Puigaudeau.”

The doctoral student put him in contact with Monique Vérité. She dedicated a biography to the explorer who had entrusted her with her archives, travel notebooks, sketches drawn by her companion Marion Senones.

In Odette’s footsteps

I got involved in the game of making this forgotten character known.

Based on photos, texts, period engravings, recent images shot in Mauritania, and interviews, Gérard Uginet offers a well-documented itinerary on the work of this exceptional woman. With a poetic touch, thanks to the animated film by Tchack based on drawings by Geoffroy Triacca and Ben Fligans, music, composed by Erick Poirier and the voice of Suliane Brahim from the Comédie Française.

Previews

Three previews, in the presence of Monique Vérité and Gérard Uginet, are scheduled before the broadcast of the documentary on France 3 on November 28, 2024, Mauritania’s National Day.

A premiere is offered at the Cinéville de Saint-Nazaire on November 19, 2024 at 8 p.m. (entrance €7 including €2 for the benefit of Mrap).

A second on November 25, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. at the Atlantic cinema in La Turballe (free with an aubade from the Pays Blanc harmony) and on November 28, 2024 at 8:30 p.m. at the Jeanne d’Arc room in Le Croisic (free) .

Useful: also discover the exhibition “The salt of the desert” at the Franciscan gallery in Saint-Nazaire until December 1, 2024. Saharan vigil every Friday at 7 p.m. Saturday November 23, 2024, conference by Monique Vérité, for the Movement against Racism and for Friendship of Peoples (Mrap) room 7 of the Maison des Associations in Saint-Nazaire. (free).

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