Benoît Ramampy (1947–1996): A Life Dedicated to Cinema

Born in Ambalavao in 1947, Benoît Ramampy was a tenacious and passionate Malagasy director. Following extensive training in the fine arts in France, he made several documentaries and three dramatic films: L’Accident / The Accident (1973), Dahalo, dahalo, il était une fois le moyen ouest / Dahalo, Dahalo, Once upon a Time in the Midwest (1984), and Le Prix de la paix / The Price of Peace (1989). Armed with an unwavering commitment to his art, Ramampy made movies even when the odds of success were stacked against him. Though Ramampy’s attitude may have earned him quite a few enemies during his short and powerful filmmaking career, it was his very obstinacy and allegiance to his creative vision that allowed him to secure recognition and respect for Madagascar in the world of international cinema. This article addresses the little known story of Ramampy’s life, the context for his films, and the legacy he left behind for his native Madagascar and the next generation of Malagasy filmmakers.