Anne Morgan: an American on the front
From 1917 to 1924, 350 American women labored to bring Picardy back to life. At the head of their brigade was Anne Morgan, a wealthy heiress from New York, daughter of the banker John Pierpont Morgan, and founder of CARD: the Comité américain pour les Régions dévastées.
To promote her action, Anne Morgan knew how to harness the power of images: she called upon filmmakers and photographers to describe the destitution and destruction of the war.
Anne Morgan’s film and photo archive offers an essential eyewitness account and a documentary resource of exceptional quality and diversity. Between her collection and the letters written by the women volunteers, which paint a very concrete picture of their daily lives, the film will be able to bring to life the fairy-tale adventures of these real-life heroines: Anne Morgan and the 350 CARD volunteers. It is a vibrant tribute to philanthropy, volunteering and American altruism.
Type (Documentaire / Documentaire fiction / Série documentaire)DocumentaryGenre en anglaisHistory Written byBenoit Gautier, Sylvain Bergère Directed by Sylvain Bergère In coproduction with Musée franco-américain du château de BlérancourtIn association with France TélévisionsSupported by CNC, Ministère de la Défense, Mission du centenaire de la Première Guerre mondiale, Procirep Year2017Duration52min
Unlike the numerous films that have documented World War I and its destructions, this one tells the lesser-known and exemplary story of the reconstruction of part of Northern France just after the war, thanks to Anne Morgan, a wealthy young American, and her 350 young women volunteers from the New World who came to help civilians rebuild the villages of Picardy near the front lines.
Independent, feminist, altruistic, Anne Morgan was also a pioneer of what would later be called “humanitarianism,” free from any political or religious movement. Moved by the ravaged France, she dedicated her life and fortune to its reconstruction, with a vision of great modernity.
To encourage donations in the USA, she produced numerous films and photos. This material, almost unprecedented and of incredible cinematic quality, is an exceptional resource for viewing this period of history from a different perspective. It is also a vivid and embodied way to show the state of France and its people in 1918, as well as to narrate an extraordinary human adventure.
Press coverage
Stunning imagery and a wealth of fascinating anecdotes. This deep dive into the post-war period is well-researched and highlights the remarkable filmed sequences and beautiful photographs from that time.
Télé Loisirs
Anne Morgan: more than just a wealthy fool!
L'Humanité
The documentary chronicles the journey of this courageous and generous woman, using well-preserved visual and audio archives. It offers a rarely explored angle on the reconstruction of post-war France, and yet it is essential to discover.
Journal Des Femmes
Other works by Sylvain Bergère
Georgia O’Keeffe: American Icon
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