CONVERSATION on the Struggle for Cultural Identity and Independence in the 1970s

Conversation (German/French) with Jean Huillet and Manfred Metzner; moderated and translated by Karla Jauregui

In the early 1970s—in the wake of the French 1968 movement—the Occitan independence movement (Lutte occitane) had taken root in southern France. It went largely unnoticed in Germany, except in Heidelberg and Frankfurt. The evening will focus, among other things, on the key events of that time and their consequences: the struggle of the winegrowers, the sheep farmers on the Larzac, the rebirth of Occitan culture in literature, film, and music, and the impact of tourism (e.g., La Grande Motte). The current political situation will also be discussed.

In the early 1970s, winemaker Jean Huillet was one of the leaders of the winemakers’ revolt and the movement against the military base in Larzac. “Huillet’s Gang” did not shy away from violent actions against the state, which led to his arrest. He remained politically active for a very long time, but his passion today is still viticulture. Manfred Metzner lives in Heidelberg as a publisher (Das Wunderhorn Publishing House). He has been traveling through Occitania since 1972 and became involved in the Occitan independence movement in 1974.