ALABASTER, A FOUNDATIONAL GAMBLE
At the heart of the documentary, the exchanges with Alain Ellouz reveal a singular relationship with stone. Alabaster emerges not as an obvious choice, but as a gradual discovery shaped by experimentation, setbacks, and moments of revelation. Starting from the unknown, Alain Ellouz explores the material in all its dimensions: its fragility, density, and texture. Together with his team, he uncovers its secrets, invents unprecedented techniques to shape, treat, and illuminate it, pushing its limits ever further. The film thus reveals what lies behind the scenes: a deep, time-anchored process in which technical mastery is built patiently over the years.
©Christel Martin
©Christel Martin
BEHIND THE SCENES OF AN EXPLORATION
The film offers a rare glimpse behind the scenes of a Maison shaped over twenty years. It traces the early days, the first experiments with alabaster, as well as the key stages that structured its development. Through the images, the film reveals the importance of engineering, technical research, and the care devoted to the finest details. From the workshop and the precise gestures of the alabaster craftsmen to the design phases and strategic choices, the film documents the full range of professions involved in creation. It also highlights a fundamental commitment: the preservation of alabaster at its source, from the quarries, where each extraction is conceived with respect for the material and the long term sustainability of resources. The film thus reveals a complete ecosystem, where creation, material expertise, and marketing reflection come together to embed alabaster within architectural projects and luxury creations in France and internationally.
©Claire Jaillard
A MANIFESTO FILM TO OPEN THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR
Like the book “Alabaster, The infinite landscapes of Alain Ellouz”, “L’Odyssée d’Alain Ellouz” stands at the heart of the twentieth anniversary year of the Maison Alain Ellouz Paris. The film was unveiled during the landmark evening at the Grand Rex, through a manifesto screening conceived as a founding moment. More than a retrospective, the film acts as an exercise in transmission and memory. Through images and footage, a vision emerges: that of a Maison that has made material a permanent field of exploration, and that continues today to write its story by constantly pushing the limits of what can be achieved.
We extend our sincerest thanks to Pierre Morales, director, and Dany Tambicannou, editor, for their sensitive perspective and the precision of the film’s narrative. We also wish to thank those interviewed for the richness of their testimonies: Christel Martin, photographer; Patrick Ellouz; Virginie Mahieux, Editorial Director at Éditions de La Martinière; and Gabrielle Larmet, architect at ABP Architectes. We warmly thank the Alain Ellouz Paris team, and in particular Sylvaine Garcia, Marketing and Communications Director; Nabila Elamri, Managing Director; Ludovic Sourbé, Technical Director; and Walid Janvier, Head of Production, for their commitment and contribution to this project.
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