Colombes sans gravité : The UN in Mali: a dead end for peace

Eleven years after the establishment of the peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA), Christophe Gargot's film Colombes sans gravité offers a behind-the-scenes look at a failure. By delving into the decisions made in Bamako and New York, this documentary takes an in-depth look at the role of the United Nations in contemporary conflicts.

Mali, a land of lost illusions

In 2013, the UN Security Council created MINUSMA, a peacekeeping mission to help stabilise Mali, rebuild its institutions and combat the jihadist threat. But eleven years later, the situation is grim: the situation has deteriorated, armed groups have grown stronger throughout the Sahel, and Mali has turned to Russian mercenaries. France was pushed out, followed by the UN.

The film Colombes sans gravité looks back on this failure. Without spectacular effects, it explores in detail the mechanisms, decisions and silences that accompanied this international mission.

A rare voice, at the heart of the UN

Shot between Mali and the United Nations headquarters in New York, the film gives a voice to those who experienced the mission from the inside: diplomats, military personnel, observers, members of civil society... All describe a complex machine, often disconnected from the ground, caught between ideals and geopolitical realities. The film also questions the UN model of intervention more broadly: can we still believe in the effectiveness of the ‘peace solutions’ promoted by the international community? What remains of multilateralism in a fractured world, torn by asymmetric conflicts and growing rivalries for influence?

A committed perspective

Director and documentary filmmaker Christophe Gargot is no stranger to socially conscious films. In 2009, he made D'Arusha à Arusha, a documentary praised for its work on international justice after the Rwandan genocide, which was selected for the Berlinale, among other festivals. With Colombes sans gravité, he continues his reflection on international institutions, their limitations and their ability to respond to the world's emergencies.