ENCOUNTERS 2025: WHERE ZEBUS SPEAK FRENCH

Every year since our founding in 2010, The Bioscope has proudly hosted screenings of The Encounters South African International Documentary Festival. Now celebrating its 27th year as a festival, Encounters returns to The Bioscope once again with screenings at The Bioscope from 20 - 29 June. Tickets are R90. 

SEE THE FULL BIOSCOPE PROGRAM HERE

WHERE ZEBUS SPEAK FRENCH

Dir. Nantenaina Lova | France | Madagascar | Germany | Burkina Faso | 103 min | 2023

Set on the rice paddies of Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo, Where Zebus Speak French explores the ongoing resistance of subsistence farmers against the political and economic interests of China’s ‘Presidential Project’ developments, which continue to threaten their ancestral land and way of life. At the heart of the film lies a searing exploration of modern colonialism, forced displacement and exploitation, revealing a deeper corruption and betrayal of the very people the government claims to serve and protect. Punctuated by daily life on the paddies and rich folkloric mythologies expressed in stories performed through traditional puppetry, the film shows how Malagasy culture, identity, and history remain inseparable from the land they are fighting to protect. Guided by an unwavering spirit, Where Zebus Speak French captures the experiences of a community led into powerful resistance for the survival of their culture and legacy, against foreign forces seeking the erasure of their land, lives and history.

In 2025, The Bioscope celebrates 15 Years Of Cinema. We couldn’t have achieved this without our dedicated staff who look after you every time you visit. We’re lucky enough to have had all of them with us for as long as we can remember, and believe that this loyalty deserves constant support!

For the months of May, June and July, we are running a special BIOSCOPE BIRTHDAY STAFF FUNDRAISER, where in the checkout of your ticket purchase, you can give a donation that will go straight to them - Owen, Silin, Bongi, Portia, Polite, and Swenkie!