Maltournée

Based on Wim Wenders' unique approach and under his mentorship, six Iranian films were created as part of the “A Sense of Place” project. An abandoned area on the outskirts of Paris forms the backdrop for an observation that goes far beyond simple documentation. The focus is on a former meeting place of a refugee community on the Saint-Denis canal. The film begins where traces of everyday life remain visible in the post-industrial environment. Through camera movements, fragments of voices, and shots of the terrain, a precise picture emerges of what is missing but still tangible. This approach to a transient place reveals the perspective of an artist who works between documentation and artistic research. MALTOURNÉE is a short film by Pooya Abbasian, an Iranian artist who has lived in Paris since 2011. Produced with the support of the Wim Wenders Foundation, it was created as part of the “A Sense of Place” program, in which six Iranian filmmakers were accompanied by Wim and Hella Wenders. The work was also presented as the centerpiece of an exhibition at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris. Abbasian, who also works as a photographer, illustrator, and author, combines his cinematic practice with an exploration of migration, memory, and visual traces. The work was part of the program of the BelDocs Festival in Belgrade and the CPH:DOX documentary film festival in Copenhagen. There, it was part of a program that highlights experimental and hybrid forms of documentary film. In his cinematic work, Abbasian combines the experiences of his Iranian heritage with impressions from his life in France. MALTOURNÉE links these perspectives to create a documentary approach that incorporates both artistic processes and clear observations.