Hearts and Crafts
Frédéric Laffont / Isabelle Dupuy-Chavanat
Frédéric Laffont and Isabelle Dupuy-Chavanat / France / 2011 / Color / Video / 42 min
Established as a harness and saddle makers in Paris since 1837, Hermès has always been supported by artisans throughout history. The two directors have visited and discovered Hermès ateliers in four different regions of France, from Paris to the Ardennes, from Lyonnais to Lorraine, and they have captured the sounds of leather and crystal, the song of silk and the silence of the artisans. Observing the techniques and mannerisms of the artisans quietly brings to light the sparks of life, enthusiasm, and pride of the artisans present in the midst of their silence.
Frédéric Laffont / Isabelle Dupuy-Chavanat
A renowned reporter and documentary maker, Frédéric Laffont has filmed conflicts in Lebanon, Rwanda, Bosnia and Afghanistan. He has received the most prestigious awards of the profession, including the Prix Albert Londres in 1987 for a reportage on the war in Lebanon.
After studying in the photographic section of the Gobelins visual arts school, Isabelle Dupuy-Chavanat became a stylist and journalist. Passionate about images, savoir-faire and art direction, this globetrotter crisscrossed Asia, Africa and America in the course of her editorial and advertising commissions.