1875: a wealthy young industrialist travelled the Forez countryside, equipped with a darkroom. At a time when the medium was still in its infancy, Félix Thiollier produced almost 25,000 photographic plates, most of which followed the contours of his homeland, from the Forez foothills to the outskirts of Saint-Etienne. In this land, which he would never leave, Félix experimented with photography under the influence of painting and drawing.

A century later, a camera returns to these sites, which were turned upside down by the industrial revolution, to reveal an inventive and prolific career under the auspices of a community of artists. A sensitive body of work that progresses from the countryside to the city, to the edges and margins of the city, a peaceful dazzle for the most modest places and the humblest objects. The world face to face.

Produced with the support of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region's audiovisual aid fund, production aid from the CNC Centre National du Cinéma et de l'image animée, production aid from PROCIREP -société des producteurs- and support from ANGOA.