Screening and Discussion – La Révolte des Femmes de Chambre

For 22 months, the housekeepers of the Ibis Batignolles Hotel in Paris went on strike to denounce their working conditions and mistreatment. These so-called “invisible” workers chose to stand up to hospitality giant Accor for their rights and dignity. Victorious after one of the longest social struggles in French history, their fight became a symbol.

Synopsis

In June 2019, the housekeepers of France’s largest Ibis hotel, located at Porte de Clichy in Paris, decided to break the silence and abandon resignation. They launched a strike to protest unbearable work rhythms, unpaid labor, and the harsh conditions imposed on them by Accor through the subcontractor that employed them. They dared to speak out, in court, about exploitation and discrimination by the leading hotel group in Europe and the third largest in the world. Their fight, which lasted nearly two years, called out an entire system.

For Rachel Kéké, spokesperson of the movement, Sylvie Kimissa, and the others, it was a vital and uncertain struggle that deeply transformed their lives. Through the chronicle of this collective, triumphant mobilization, the film takes us alongside these women and reveals who these new heroines of our time are.

In June 2022, the election of Rachel Kéké to the National Assembly turned this fight into more than just a symbol, it became a historic milestone: the first hotel housekeeper to enter the French Parliament.

This event is part of the opening night of the Transeuropa Festival 2025.

Location: L’Écran Cinema, Saint-Denis, 14 passage de l’Aqueduc, Métro L13 Basilique de Saint-Denis.
Date & Time: Thursday, June 5 | 8:00 – 10:00 PM
Language(s): Film in French with English subtitles

Discussion with: Rachel Keke, Sylvie Kimissa, Magali Verdier, moderated by Nasteho Aden

Get tickets HERE