There are various moving images produced by Pathé and Gaumont depicting the official visit of the President of the French Republic Armand Fallières to Tunisia (April 1911). We are unable to say which are the work of Samama Chikli. The bestowing of honours, the courteous and benevolent crowds, and the cordial tourist visits all display the same official manner of the welcoming address of the Bey Muhammad V al-Nasir (who occasionally appears alongside the President, apparently without excessive enthusiasm), at least if the official press accounts of his words are anything to go by: “You wanted to bring Tunisia indisputable proof of the care with which the government of the French Republic has, for 30 years, consistently guided and supported Tunisia’s movement towards progress and civilization.” One must look elsewhere to learn that these were actually turbulent months, marked by bloody protest and boycotts.

Andrea Meneghelli