À BÉTÔT? GOODBYE?
JÈRRIAIS - A LANGUAGE ON THE EDGE OF SILENCE
FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY FILM
JERSEY 2026 100min
An intimate portrait of Jèrriais, Jersey’s ancient native language, following the voices of its last native speakers and the growing movement fighting to keep it alive — but can it still be done?
Un portrait întînme du Jèrriais, la vielle langue dé Jèrri, tch’en siêthant les vouaix des dreins pâleurs natifs êcliaithe la craîssance du mouvement dé l’ravigoter - mais nou-s-y rêussitha-t-i’?
“When you lose a language, you lose a culture, intellectual wealth, a work of art. It's like dropping a bomb on a museum, the Louvre.”
Professor Ken Hale.
“There are few languages I know with such a richness of expression, some of her idioms are poetry…Jèrriais belongs to Jersey, and without it Jersey would, I believe, stop being Jersey.”
Professor Paul Birt
This documentary is about a people - the people who spoke, and still speak, Jèrriais, Jersey’s ancient language. Passed down through generations of native speakers, it carries the island’s history and identity, yet in recent times has come perilously close to being lost.
At the same time, a growing movement is working to revitalise the language - driven by people who care passionately about the importance of Jèrriais as a vital part of Jersey’s culture, heritage and inclusive identity.
Ultimately, this film is a call to action. A rallying cry to a new generation of enthusiasts, learners, and speakers to take up the challenge and ensure this precious language can thrive once again.
Chu dotchumentaithe raconte un peupl’ye - les cheins tch’ont pâlé et pâlent acouo l’Jèrriais, la vielle langue dé Jèrri. Héthité l’travèrs dé généthâtions d’pâleurs natifs, i’ porte l’histouaithe et l’identité d’l’Île, tout comme à ches drein v’là tch’a ristchi d’êt’ pèrdu.
Au temps tchi couort, nou travâle atout la craîssance d’un mouvement pouor ravigoter la langue - m’né par des gens entchéthinnés d’l’împortance du Jèrriais comme eune êlément essentiel d’la tchultuthe, dé l’héthitage et d’l’identité încliûthive dé Jèrri.
En tout, chu film appelle à l’action. Il êmoûque eune nouvelle généthâtion d’entchéthinnés, d’êtudgiants, et d’pâleurs à lus y’êcanchi à seule fîn qu’chutte langue précieûthe èrflieuthisse d’èrché.
CO-DIRECTORS: ANNIGNA AND TOM KENNEDY
PRODUCER: BEN SPINK
IN COLLABORATION WITH: L'OFFICE DU JÈRRIAIS
KINDLY SUPPORTER BY: Jèrriais, Gouvèrnément d'Jèrri, ArtHouse Jersey, La Société Jersiaise, Jersey Heritage, Creative Island Partnership and Le Don Balleine Incorporated Association
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