WOMEN & THE WIND

Le Grand Rex, Paris

Sunday, April 27, 2025 - 18:30

Le Grand Rex, Paris

Sunday, April 27, 2025 - 18:30

Around The Waves presents the European Premiere of the documentary :

WOMEN & THE WIND

Three women ignite the flames of curiosity and adventure which lay dormant within so many of us, by deepening our understanding of the synergy between nature and humanity—and by doing so radically, through a voyage across the North Atlantic on Mara Noka, a 50-year-old wooden catamaran.

► Screening in the presence of the film crew!

the film

WOMEN & THE WIND

2024 - USA

95 minutes - VOSTFR

Trailer : https://youtu.be/f95a2SHrxho?si=NYCG8p6zmjQTYe3P

Directed by Alizé Jireh, Kiana Weltzien and Lærke Heilmann

Produced by Alizé Jireh, Kiana Weltzien, Lærke Heilmann and Angie Richard

After over a year of rebuilding an old boat, and a month of waiting for wind, three women raised anchor and set sail from North Carolina with their compass pointing east.

Their mission was simple: to follow the movement of plastic pollution along the Gulf Stream to Europe. As they departed, however, it became apparent that the journey would encompass so much more.

Kiana had sailed Mara Noka single-handed since 2018, so she was used to ocean passages. Lærke and Alizé on the other hand had little to no sailing experience, especially not a trans-Atlantic — but as land faded behind them, the feeling of unity between each other, the boat, and the ocean washed over them like a tidal wave.

Their first two weeks brought them the adventure they were hoping for, and the introspection they never expected.

A four day calm in a plastic-littered ocean was followed by three powerful low pressures, 10-20 ft seas, torn sails, wet beds, rain, and no sunshine.

Alize was seasick the entire time, not being able to keep down food or water, but she kept the camera rolling throughout it all.

Days passed where the only time possible to go outside was to use the toilet, or because getting sprayed by waves was preferable to the stuffy, wet cabins; until finally, the wind slowly abated, and the clouds gave way to much needed sunshine.

The remainder of the trip became one of reflection and connection.

The oneness of nature and (wo)man had been shown in its most vivid form, through the splendour of the ocean.

After being tossed about in an internal tempest just as real as the gale, the appearance of the sun brought a calm to each of the women, and the sound of laughter eventually became louder than that of the wind.

30 days at sea, with no sense of time or commitment — save night, day, and each other — and a simple routine as old as time — rest, eat, fish, enjoy, and wait — was interrupted by the enchanting island of Flores.

Approaching land proved to be the most difficult part of the voyage, as not one of the women wanted to let go of this special bond they had created between themselves, each other, and oneness.

The return to civilization reminded the women why they went out in the first place: to bring attention to our impact on the life-force of the planet, the Ocean, and to allow as many people as possible to immerse themselves in the emotions felt and lessons learned on the voyage through an incomparable visual experience.