2025 Cultural Highlights: Musical 'La Légende de Monte-Cristo' and Carthage Film Festival Spotlight

The 2025 cultural scene is illuminated by two major events: the staging of the musical adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' classic novel "La Légende de Monte-Cristo" and the 36th edition of the Journées Cinématographiques de Carthage (JCC) film festival, which opened tonight.

The musical, featuring John S’tears as Edmond Dantès and Philippine Lavrey as Mercédès, offers a powerful modern interpretation of the story of betrayal, imprisonment, and vengeance. With dynamic staging, immersive lighting, and a versatile score blending epic melodies and ballads, the production brings Dumas' timeless themes of injustice and redemption vividly to contemporary audiences.

Meanwhile, the JCC festival, led by Tarek Ben Chaabane, highlights socially committed cinema with a focus on individual and collective memory. Opening with "Palestine 36," directed by Annemarie Jacir and starring Jeremy Irons and Liam Cunningham, the film delves into the 1936 Palestinian farmers' revolt against British colonial rule. The festival honors film legends like Fadhel Jaziri and Claudia Cardinale and celebrates pioneers of African cinema such as Paulin Soumanou Vieyra and Malian filmmaker Souleymane Cissé, with retrospectives and exhibitions. Cissé's daughter, Fatou, contributes a tribute film reflecting on her father's legacy.

These events underscore France and the francophone world's vibrant engagement with cultural storytelling, from classic literary adaptation to cinema’s role as a dynamic force of social reflection and artistic heritage.