Moussa Mansaly

In 1817, on Bourbon Island (Reunion Island), a compelling narrative unfolds. Following the passing of his mother, the enslaved Furcy stumbles upon a letter of emancipation amidst her belongings – an unexpected key to his indirect liberation. Aided by the support of abolitionist prosecutor Gilbert Boucher, Furcy courageously embarks on a legal crusade against his master, Joseph Lory, in a bid to substantiate his claim to freedom. This legal saga, marked by numerous twists and turns, spans almost three decades. Furcy endures imprisonment and exile in Mauritius for a significant portion of this period. It is only in 1846 that he finally presents his case before the Royal Court of Paris. Furcy’s triumph in the courtroom distinguishes him as one of the rare slaves in French history to achieve legal emancipation several years prior to the definitive abolition of slavery.

After a serious sport accident in a swimming pool, Ben, now an incomplete quadriplegic, arrives in a rehabilitation center. He meets with other handicapped persons (tetraplegics, paraplegics, traumatized crania), all victims of accidents, as well as a handicapped since his early childhood. They go through impotence, despair and resignation, with their daily struggle to learn how to move a finger or to hold a fork. Some of them slowly find a little mobility while others receive the verdict of the handicap for life. Despite everything, hope and friendship help them endure their difficulties.