Staff Choose Premieres: "The Journey" by Eve Saint-Louis
In the meantime it's the people who created us that we look to with the most heartfelt hearts -- as well as the ones that can cause us pain the most. This week's Staff Pick Premiere is a knot-in-stomach-inducing drama impressively written, directed, and acted in by Eve Saint-Louis that depicts this unfortunate fact so viscerally.
"The journey" is Saint-Louis' directorial debut (! ) The film tells the story of Chantale, a young woman returning home from Paris after spending a year of the Canadian family. To her dismay, Chantale's father offers an opportunity to collect her at the airport, despite viewers quickly discover that they have a tense relationship. Chantale's doe-eyed sweetness (played superbly by Saint-Louis) is starkly contrasted to her father's bitter irritation (portrayed flawlessly in the film by Claude Laroche), resulting in a thick tension so strong it's as if the actors stepped off screen and handed the audience some sort of anxiety. It is so successful to create stress for viewers, in actual, that those who have suffered emotional trauma from their loved ones should be aware that the movie could trigger creating a trigger.
"The Journey" will probably be a favorite tale for people who have a lot of complicated family dynamics It is also a sad instance of the untrue shared blood of a person does not necessarily mean that they'll always have your best interests with them.
We have asked multi-talented Eve Saint-Louis a few questions regarding her film and are excited to share the answers to your questions on its online premiere:
The inspiration for this:
"Family relationships. In particular than that, what we should not talk about the relationship. A rich, complex and universal topic of which I wanted to look into some unspoken and mysterious aspects that lie behind our conversations and the hurts that we suffer. What I find interesting are the truths and restrictions on the family core. It is believed that you should forgive your family for everything, and treat it as if it were a sacred space. However, what is the next step when a relationship gets toxic and to what point must it be endured? It was crucial for me to translate into images the idea that parentage does provide intimacy but it does not ensure that sometimes family can feel like strangers ."
On challenges faced:
"Since it was my first filmmaking experience, everything was challenging because everything was fresh. However, there was one particular challenge I am certain I'll remember for the rest of my life. It was similar to searching for a needle in a haystack. The home on the screen was the toughest character to pin down, to discover. I wanted a place that would resemble the father's house, a place filled with things and historical information, as well as an elongated ceiling, which weighs down on the characters and giving a feeling of enclosure ."
On the writing, directing and acting as the lead:
"It all started with the need to write the story, followed by desire to take it to the "big screen" me. Being aware of the arduous task the art of theaterdirecting can be and how difficult it can be, I was aware that the art of directing for film would demand significant effort. So, the thought of performing in it also made me be hesitant and keep the question open for a while. At that point, I drew inspiration from directors who combined the two roles and encouraged myself to do exactly the same.
My entire energy went into preparing for both characters of director and actor, and drew the clearest separation between them. As an actor, I reserved time in my schedule for rehearsal and visualizing the scene. It was my priority regardless of the pre-production anxiety that comes with any film. As an actor, I was much the same and was blessed to have an expert Director of Photography could rely on. When I arrived on set as Chantal My artistic collaborator had a clear understanding of the goals I wanted to convey for the film and its overall perspective, so he could guide me in any way that was needed. My incredible team and our approach have allowed me to play and direct at the same time ."
On finding the perfect spot:
"Location scouting required driving for hours in Quebec winter. I would knock on doors of people, and sometimes placing handwritten letters of love in their mailbox just to show the owners my love for their house. My artistic director and I came across the perfect gem. My first encounter with the owners, they were gracious enough to invite me inside because, looking from inside, they thought they saw their daughter at the door. It was a great feeling to be able to meet them. !"
Her suggestions to budding filmmakers:
"Persevere and trust your instinct. If you feel a tale is worth telling and you believe it is, then the chances are that it ."
What's next?
"I am currently making my second short movie as screenwriter and director, that I am finding very exciting. The film is also set in the winter months. The story is about the group of pals who meet for dinner to go sledding . And the way that what begins as a normal outing transforms into a major life altering experience"
