1931 –
Daniel Chicault was born in Briare, in the Loiret, in 1931. Holder of a photographer's CAP and a journeyman's certificate, he did military service in Algeria, certified photographer at the Staff Photographic Exploitation Center, 5th air region in Algiers. Released, he worked again in Paris for a few months. After war, France destroyed, he undertook a "tour de France", empty pockets, a blanket rolled up on the luggage rack of his bicycle, along the Loire. A La Baule, he completed his training with a former seminarian, Yves blin, and collaborated with big studios. He received in 1951 the journeyman's certificate before entering the Stara studio in Paris. He crossed the Mediterranean in 1952, to go first to Algeria then settled in Morocco, At Casablanca, where he stayed 6 years. He was the collaborator of Georges Audissou of the APPI studio (Application of Photography to Advertising in Industry). Thereafter, he went to Port-Lyautey (Kenitra) where he was the portrait painter of the airmen of the American base. The meeting of Jean Besancenot motivated an expedition among the Seksawa tribes of the High Atlas.
"My project in 1956 : an expedition to make a documentary film in 16 mm color inspired by "Connaissance du monde" followed by a presentation in Paris, Pleyel room, an ambitious dream ”.
So, for the first time, were fixed on the color film 16 mm in spring 1957, the faces of these secluded valleys, under the title “Landscapes and Faces of the High Atlas”. This is the first color film made in this region. Daniel Chicault was accompanied by Roland Maréchal. Exceptional ethnological testimony, an important part is dedicated to the Seksaoua tribe and the Tiskiouines dancers. The filmmaker accompanied the newly appointed caid's mule caravan, who was going for the first time to the Berber mountains. Then, another part is dedicated to the Mgouna tribe, established on the southern slope of the High Atlas. This document is exceptional, this is one of the first color films shot in the High Atlas. This cinematographic achievement allowed Daniel Chicault to enter the “Knowledge of the world” cycle and to work for Télé-Luxembourg. Daniel Chicault's commentary accompanies the latest version of the document produced in 2008 at the Cinémathèque de Bretagne and presented at the exhibition “Berbers, from shores in dreams” on the Berbers at the Abbey of Daoulas. A version of the film is deposited at Quai Branly. The film is screened permanently at the Maison de la Photographie, and at the Berber Ecomuseum of Ourika.