Cinematographer Claire Mathon, AFC, sat down with François Reumont to discuss her work on Mati Diop’s Atlantics. We are pleased to share with you a transcript of her words.
Reading the screenplay of Vif-argent (whose working title was La Nuit je mens), Céline Bozon remembers having particularly enjoyed the mix of genres between daily chronicle of Parisian life, romance story, and fantastic film. (FR)
Director of photography Manu Dacosse, SBC, recently received the Magritte Award for Best Cinematography on the movie Laissez bronzer les cadavres (Let the Corpses Tan), by Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani. Adapted from the novel by Jean-Patrick Manchette and Jean-Pierre Bastid the film is a crossover between a western and Giallo, shot on film featuring colorful images and a very pop staging. (FR)
Chris Menges, BSC, ASC, is the only cinematographer in the world to have won not only two Oscars for Cinematography in 1984 and 1986 (The Killing Fields and The Mission, both by Roland Joffé), but also the Grand Prix du Jury at Cannes, in 1988, for A World Apart, which he directed and which was shot by Peter Biziou, and which also won (in a tie) Best Actress for its three star actresses.
In a deluge of wide-angle shots, Greek director Yórgos Lánthimos features a lesbian and Rock ‘n’ Roll version of Dangerous Liaisons at this year’s Camerimage Festival. A game of chess, of seduction, and of power between three women at the uppermost echelons of 1710 England. Natural lighting, fish-eye, and panoramic panning shots are on offer in this unusual historical picture, which is evocative of Barry Lindon for its use of natural lighting, the world of the theatre for its behind-closed-doors setting in a palace, and the world of music videos for its choice of lenses. The very Rock ‘n’ Roll cinematographer Robbie Ryan (a Rolling Stones pin affixed to his distressed blue jumper) participated in the traditional question-and-answer session following the end of the screening, just before midnight.
Consciously very different than the traditional American hero saga, Damien Chazelle’s biopic First Man is intended to be intimate and sober and depicts the difficulties of a couple in the aftermath of the loss of their first child. Cinematographer Linus Sandgren, FSF, used a variety of different cinematographic techniques for each particular take on this film where he is again working with its young director, both of whom were Oscar winners for La La Land. Here, he discusses with us the slightly-less glamorous, but just as important, aspects of the making of this film. (FR)
“The Terror” is a television series that lies somewhere between a historical study and a fantastic tale. It is an adaptation of Dan Simmons’ bestseller, which narrates the 1848 British expedition to the Arctic intended to locate the Northwest Passage. Both ships (the HMS Terror and Erebus) disappeared without a trace, providing the opportunity for Ridley Scott to explore a new variation on the theme he has been exploring since the first Alien movie, forty years ago. Florian Hoffmeister, BSC, was responsible for the cinematography on the series’ first episodes and therefore set the tone for the rest of the story, which is set in isolation between sea and ice. (FR)
Dutch cinematographer and director Claire Pijman’s touching and original documentary paints a portrait of cinematographer Robby Müller, NSC, the legendary partner of Wim Wender, Jim Jarmush, and Lars von Trier. The film was constructed from personal archival footage provided to the director by Robby Müller himself during the last years of his life. Because he was unable to express himself as a result of his illness, his testament to us is given via this filmed diary, shot with a Super 8. Many filmmakers share their memories of Müller during the film.
I remember meeting Julian for the first time twelve years ago when I was shooting Al Pacino’s Salome. Al had invited Julian to watch him directing. Julian sat behind the video monitor for several hours without interfering. I remember feeling quite under pressure.
Filmed in two weeks "like doing a movie among friends", the film Climax is faithful to the themes and style of Gaspar Noé (sex, drugs and a descent into hell). Mixing improvisation and extremely precise staging (like the choreography that opens the film), Benoît Debie, SBC, explains how he approached this shoot full of energy and things a little crazy ... (FR)
After having shot his last film in France, Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi decided on Spain for his latest film, a family thriller that is reminiscent both of classical tragedy and westerns. A family behind closed doors in a village of the sierra outside of Madrid, set amongst grape harvests, passions, and jealousies. The great Spanish (and French-speaking) cinematographer José Luis Alcaine is opening this year’s Competition at Cannes with this authentic firework display of actors and cinematography. (FR)
The video of Ed Lachman’s (ASC) Master Class is now online. It was organized by the AFC in partnership with the ENS Louis-Lumière, and took place on Monday, 12 February 2018 on the school’s premises. It was hosted by Caroline Champetier, AFC, moderated by François Reumont, and the conversation in English was interpreted by Massoumeh Lahiji.
Eric Gautier, AFC, answers a question regarding the potential paradox of filming a movie about a hypothetical apparition by the Virgin Mary with a smile and a recollection about the beginning of his adventure with Xavier Giannoli: “It’s a bit of a challenge to film the mystery of faith. The love of God is like any sort of love: there is no tangible proof, just the gift of oneself. Sincerity (and lies, like in other of Giannoli’s films) is at the heart of the story. The loneliness of the two characters, Jacques (Vincent Landon) and Anna (Galatea Bellugi) is the spark that sets the story in motion.”
Joe Wright’s film is a portrayal of Winston Churchill’s first, turbulent weeks as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (in May 1940), and provides an emotional portrait of an eloquent and superior man who was nonetheless riven with doubt. Gary Oldman’s imperial performance will certainly earn him a nomination in the 2018 Oscars. Cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel, AFC, ASC, discusses the shooting of this ode to the English language with us. (FR)
I have a very precise memory of my state of mind when I finished my first read-through of the screenplay of Insyriated: I was overwhelmed and even physically worn out. I felt as though I had personally lived through that day of war. Not war as one imagines it: adventurous, heroic, on the front…masculine…
The career of cinematographer Jeanne Lapoirie, AFC, has been shaped by her relations with very different directors, from Téchiné to Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, Ozon to des Pallières, and Israeli directors Ronit and Sholmi Elkabetz. She designed the lighting on the first two films by Robin Campillo, Laurent Cantet’s set designer and editor. Her first feature-length film, The Returned, was made into an eponymous television series that has become a legend in both France and the United States. After directing Eastern Boy, Robin Campillo made his début at Cannes in the official competition with 120 Beats per Minute. (BB)
British cinematographer Ben Richardson was discovered by international audiences in 2012 when his film Beasts of the Southern Wild received a Golden Camera Award at Cannes. Since then, he has signed off on a number of feature-length films. He is back this year on a Taylor Sheridan (author of the screenplay of Sicario and Hell or High Water) film, Wind River, a wintertime thriller filmed in the snowy Utah countryside. (FR)
After Snow Therapy in 2014, Swedish director Ruben Östlund returns to Cannes this year with The Square, cinematography by his compatriot Frederik Wenzel. A film that discusses the loss of confidence through the main character who is involved in the contemporary art world. The director’s style includes some unexpected camera movements…
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