“A successful comedy has many levels of reading.” Francois Ozon told how to create a feminist film from a misogynistic play

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A new film by one of the most famous French directors, Francois Ozon, is released in Ukrainian cinemas – the comedy “My Crime”. In his “comedy of the post-MeToo era” (MeToo – the movement against sexual violence and sexual harassment, which gained more popularity after the scandal surrounding the film producer Harvey Weinstein), Ozon voices feminist theses and explores the topic of power in the context of gender. The events of the film, based on the 1934 play by Georges Berre and Louis Verneil, take place in Paris in the 1930s. The young actress Madeleine – played by the most promising actress of 2023 according to the César award, Nadia Tereshkevych – is accused of murdering a well-known influential producer, because she was the last one to see him alive. Madeleine did come to the producer on business and was harassed by him. Thanks to her lawyer friend Pauline (played on the screen by Rebecca Marder), the court acquits the young actress and she becomes a real icon of feminism, has a successful career and overcomes poverty. But one visit puts this success story in jeopardy. In addition to the Tereshkevich and Marder duo, the legendary Isabelle Huppert and César Award winners Fabrice Luchini, Dani Boon, Andre Dussollier starred in the film. The characters of this costume historical comedy were created by costume designer Pascaline Chavanne, who created the outfits for Ozone’s cult film 8 Women. On the eve of the Ukrainian premiere, we spoke with François Ozon about why he returned to the comedy genre after a long period of drama in his work, how to create a feminist film from a misogynistic play, and why European cinema continues to be sold to Russia. Read UP.Kultura in Telegram – For the last 20 years, you have been shooting a film a year. No matter what happens – a pandemic, lockdowns, protests in Paris, you have a planned film. How do you do it? What’s your personal secret to productivity when it’s hard to plan even a trip to the movies? – I would say that my engine, my secret of such productivity is a great desire to shoot and great pleasure from making films. Filmmaking is my passion. This is what I love to do. And, fortunately, I have this opportunity. Well, it is worth noting that I made films that were very successful. So with that I have a certain rhythm to work with and make my new tapes. François Ozon (left) with the actors on the set. Photo provided by the press service – Film production is a long and lengthy process with many components. What do you like most about it, which stage or process, and what, on the contrary, is the most frustrating and you would like to get through it as soon as possible? – The least, to be honest, I like the search for financing, the search for money for the film. Because you have to endure a lot of things: you have to endure comments, you have to endure constant meetings. You need to be able to convince people who listen to you. And most of all, I love everything related to the actual creation of the film. This is primarily shooting. And I also really like editing. Because editing is such a rewriting, a re-creation in the moment of my film. – Let’s talk about your new film “My crime”, which Ukrainians can already see in cinemas. So, this time you have again joined the ranks of feminists and tell a story about the harassment of an influential film producer. A few months before the premiere of “My Crime”, your American colleagues released the film “She Said”, inspired by the Weinstein case. Tell us how you decided to take on this story and why you chose to do it in a lighter, comedic tone? – I really wanted to return to the comedy genre. Lately I have done a lot of dramatic films. And during the lockdown, during covid, I thought: what movies do I want to see after all these events. After the pandemic, there was an economic crisis, then the war in Ukraine, and everything that is happening is very difficult, serious and tragic. And I thought that in the course of these tragic events, I would like to return to lightness, but at the same time work with deep themes. And for this, comedy is just a very good tool. The costumes were created by the artist Pascaline Chavanne. A frame from the movie “My Crime” A well-made comedy allows you to have many levels of reading what is happening on the screen. That is why I decided to place the events in the 1930s, because moving to the past allows you to take a certain distance and, one might say, to play with the topic in a certain way, to look at it from different angles. I think that if I decided to set my film in today’s conditions, it would not be a comedy, but a drama, as in the case of the film She Said, which you mentioned. – In one of the interviews, you said that you had not seen a single film by Nadia Tereshkevich and Rebecca Marder, choosing them as performers of the two main roles. Do you remember what exactly became decisive for you to make your choice on them? – It was important for me to choose reliable actresses that I could rely on. In the sense that these actresses had to memorize and speak a lot of texts. Actually, most of the scenes in this film are dialogues. And they are conducted in the French of the 1930s, which, compared to today’s modern language, is much more literary and correct. Therefore, it was important to me that the actresses could articulate and convey it on the screen. So I chose reliable actresses in this sense. And I believe that I chose two of the best actresses of their generation. Nadia Tereshkevych and Rebecca Marder. A frame from the film “My Crime” Of course, every time a director chooses young actors or actresses, it is a big risk. But I am convinced that I was not mistaken. We spent a lot of time with them reading the script, working through these dialogues. And I really liked what I saw. There was such closeness between them, they were a kind of partner in crime – accomplices, but in the good sense of the word. In the film, they get into a difficult situation, so it was very important that there was a certain chemistry between them that would unite them. I saw that closeness during the casting, and I think it was captured on screen as well. – We recently released a wonderful Ukrainian drama “Pamfir”. Its director said that when he chose the main actor, the character in the script changed with him – he became stronger morally. There is a character in your film, Isabelle Huppert (Odette), who in the original play was actually a man. Are there other examples of such character transformations in “My Crime”? – As for the character of Isabelle Huppert, the script itself is an adaptation of a French play, a French play from the 30s, which is actually very misogynistic. I greatly changed and transformed it. And with regard to the character of Huppert Odette Chaumette, I decided that it would be a woman. I like that this whole story takes place in the world of theater and cinema, which is close to me. And the character of Hupper is an old actress who wants to make such a comeback, a return to her profession. So it was quite ironic to turn to the greatest French actress Isabelle Huppert and offer her to play just such a role. It was already an element of pure comedy. Isabelle Huppert as Odette Chaumette. A frame from the movie “My Crime” I adore Isabelle, we did the movie “8 Women” with her 20 years ago, which I love very much. During her career, she appeared in a lot of dramatic films, and I just really like to see her in comedies. When I offered her the role, she said, “Well, it’s a good idea, but in the end it’s a small role – I’m only in the movie at the end. Maybe it’s not worth it.” And I said, “Isabel, don’t worry. When you appear in the film – at whatever point it happens – everyone will still be looking at you.” And so it happened. – You said that the ending of the film is a reference to the film “The Last Metro” directed by Francois Truffaut. In the drama, it was a symbol of the world of theater and art, the train that transported Parisians from performances during the occupation. Being late for the train means breaking the curfew. It’s hard to believe, but now in Ukraine we watch movies and plays in the same way, making it between air alarms and to the last subway before the curfew. Why do you think people crave art even more in such dangerous times? – Yes, it is true that when Paris and part of France were under Nazi occupation, art flourished. There were a lot of theater performances and film screenings. Art is a necessity in difficult, tragic times. It gives an opportunity to switch, escape from reality, but also an opportunity to think deeply. I am happy that my film is being shown in Ukraine. That despite the fact that there is a war going on in Ukraine and the most terrible things that can only be imagined, the audience will be able to switch to something else for an hour and a half and maybe even enjoy it. I honestly made this film, precisely with the aim of giving people satisfaction and joy. A frame from the film “My Crime” – Recently, an online protest of the Ukrainian film community began in Ukraine, which disagrees with the fact that European and Hollywood films are again entering Russian cinemas. And, accordingly, pays taxes there. Among the big projects is “John Wick 4”, which brings a lot of money to Russian rental companies. Your film will be released in Russia in two months, in June. What is your opinion on this matter? – I didn’t know, I wasn’t aware (about the release date – UP.Kultura). I think this is a very difficult question. I have always had problems with my films in Russia. The Russian censorship simply ruined my film “By God’s Will”, spoiling the output of the film as a result. Very few people could see him. Many of my films are about homosexuality, so there were often problems with the release in Russia. As for this film, as far as I know, the distributor has left Russia and does not support the war in Ukraine in any way. I consider the discussion about this very difficult, there is no black and white here, but there are also shades. Yes, of course it’s about money and taxes that go to the government, although I’m sure it’s a small amount. I think more about the audience, that maybe the viewer has the right to watch movies. Because movies make it possible to think differently, perceive this world differently. It is important to me that the public is not a victim of censorship. Read also: “In Europe, our war stories are consumed between social reception and dinner.” Director Maksym Nakonechny about “Butterfly Vision” and masculinity in Ukrainian cinema

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