Jour de Nuit

A living tribute to the genius of Jacques Tati

It is in Sainte-Sévère-sur-Indre, a charming small town of character nestled in the south of the Indre department, that Jacques Tati filmed his first feature film in 1947, the mythical "Jour de Fête". This cult film, which immortalized the postman François and the village fair, has profoundly marked the identity of Sainte-Sévère. It is within this heritage that "Jour de Nuit", a nocturnal and immersive show that revives the atmosphere of the village at the time of the filming, is inscribed.

A unique processional show

The concept of "Jour de Nuit" is singular and poetic. At nightfall, on August 15th, the village of Sainte-Sévère is closed to traffic to make way for an entirely silent show. The 226 volunteer extras, from the ten communes of the canton, are made up in white and move in slow motion through about twenty scenes inspired by village life in the post-war period and the universe of Jacques Tati.

Spectators wander freely from one scene to another, guided by small candles and the pale glow of streetlights, the only sources of light in this semi-darkness conducive to dreams and time travel. The characters, like benevolent ghosts, emerge in the alleys, squares, and windows of houses to create tableaux that are sometimes funny and burlesque, sometimes gentle and poetic.

A collective and civic adventure

Beyond the show itself, "Jour de Nuit" is a formidable human and collective adventure. More than 330 volunteers participate in the realization of the event: 226 extras on stage and a hundred people mobilized for organization, technical aspects, security, and logistics. This exceptional mobilization of an entire rural canton for a common artistic project makes "Jour de Nuit" a remarkable example of participatory culture and territorial dynamism.

The association "Jour de nuit, ça continue !" carries this project with passion and determination, uniting the inhabitants of the surrounding communes around a shared artistic adventure. Rehearsals begin several months before the show, creating social bonds and strengthening the sense of belonging to a territory.

The Maison de Jour de Fête: a setting for Tati's memory

All year round, the Maison de Jour de Fête, located on the Place du Marché, offers an immersive Scénovision® experience that plunges visitors into the world of Jacques Tati and his historic filming in Sainte-Sévère. This living museum perfectly complements the "Jour de Nuit" show and testifies to the village's deep attachment to the filmmaker's legacy.

A biennial event not to be missed

The "Jour de Nuit" show takes place every two years, on the evening of August 15th, starting at 9:30 PM. This periodicity contributes to its exceptional nature and the anticipation it generates. Each edition is unique, with scenes being renewed and enriched by the imagination of the participants and directors. The event is free and accessible to all, in the purest tradition of Berry village festivals.