Guadeloupe: The voice of the island through “L’homme vertige” by Malaury Eloi Paisley

Malaury Eloi Paisley, a promising director from Guadeloupe, recently made headlines by winning the Étalon d’Or for best feature-length documentary at the 2025 Ouagadougou Pan-African Film and Television Festival (FESPACO) for her film “L’homme vertige”. This documentary, which explores the metamorphoses of the city of Pointe-à-Pitre, is a deeply personal and engaging work, reflecting both the history and contemporary challenges of Guadeloupe.

Biography of Malaury Eloi Paisley

Malaury Eloi Paisley is a filmmaker who grew up in Guadeloupe. After studying art history and museology in Paris, she continued her training at Ateliers Varan in Guadeloupe in 2016. It was here that she began to develop her documentary filmmaking skills. In 2019, she completed an international internship at the Escuela Internacional de Cine y de Televisión (EICTV) in Cuba, where she deepened her knowledge of aesthetic approaches to documentary.

"L'homme vertige": A look at Pointe-à-Pitre

“L’homme vertige”, made in 2023, is the fruit of five years of intense work. Malaury Eloi Paisley filmed her relationship with people attached to different places in Pointe-à-Pitre, capturing the essence of the city and its inhabitants. The film tells the story of Guadeloupe through the eyes of those who live there, highlighting the inertia of this island, a former French colony, and the slow disappearance of its identity.

The title “L’homme vertige” reflects the anguish and bewilderment that characterize life in a city that was at the heart of historic revolts but has now become a ghost town. The film explores the metamorphosis of Pointe-à-Pitre, from a working-class, rebellious city to an almost deserted space.

Rewards and Recognition

Before winning the Étalon d’Or at FESPACO 2025,“L’homme vertige” had already been selected for the Berlinale and the Festival du Cinéma du Réel in Paris in 2024. The same year, Malaury Eloi Paisley received the Grand Prix du FIFAC France Télévisions for this documentary. These distinctions underline not only the director’s talent, but also the profound impact of her work on audiences and critics alike.

Malaury Eloi Paisley is best known for her documentary “L’homme vertige” (2023), but she also made a short film entitled “Chanzy Blues” in 2016. Here’s some information about her work:

“Chanzy Blues (2016)
- TypeShort documentary
- SynopsisMade during his training at the Ateliers Varan in Guadeloupe, this film marks the beginning of his commitment to documentary filmmaking..
“Vertigo Man (2023)
- TypeFeature-length documentary
- SynopsisThis film explores the metamorphoses of the city of Pointe-à-Pitre, capturing the stories of its inhabitants and reflecting the identity and challenges of Guadeloupe.

Malaury Eloi Paisley has not yet made any other notable films apart from these two works. His work focuses mainly on exploring social and cultural themes through documentary, with a particular focus on Guadeloupe and its communities.

FESPACO: A major cultural event

The Festival Panafricain du Cinéma et de la Télévision de Ouagadougou (FESPACO) is one of the most important film events in Africa. Its 29th edition, held from February 22 to March 1, 2025, brought together filmmakers from all over Africa and beyond, offering a platform to celebrate African cinema and promote innovative works such as “L’homme vertige”.

Cultural and social impact

“L’homme vertige” is not just a documentary; it’s a work that questions the identity and future of Caribbean communities. By highlighting the challenges and transformations of Pointe-à-Pitre, Malaury Eloi Paisley invites us to reflect on how cities and societies evolve in the face of economic and cultural pressures.

The film also contributes to the preservation of Guadeloupe’s collective memory, capturing the personal stories and lived experiences of its inhabitants. This makes “L’homme vertige” both a personal and universal documentary, capable of reaching a wide audience.

Malaury Eloi Paisley, with “L’homme vertige”, has succeeded in capturing the essence of Guadeloupe and sharing it with the world. Her work is a tribute to the island’s culture and history, as well as a profound reflection on the identity and future of Caribbean communities. The international recognition she has received is a testament to her talent and the impact of her work on the contemporary cinematic landscape.

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