Lunch with Roméo

An interview with Manuel Schapira, director of Roméo

 How did you become interested in making a short film on a creation class?
I had just spoken for an hour with film students at the Sorbonne. It was a good discussion but too short. As I was leaving, in the hallway I saw a little poster that was offering courses on creativity. I was intrigued by that and I started imagining a short film with the students I had just met. I had the impression that they were shy and they could really gain from some self exploration.

 How did you go about establishing the sense of unease that opens the film?
Creation means opening yourself up at some point. Even it it’s not exactly visible, that was always there. When I was thinking about the project, I had Festen in mind: it’s not an direct influence, but it was always present in the back of mind, as well as Pinter for the permanent tension in his plays, the threat that weighs down.

 Did you conceive of Roméo as a stand alone film or as part of a longer story?
I’ve made shorts that could be scenes in longer films – they do give that impression. But that also works because we know nothing about the characters, neither before nor after.

 In the film, were you trying to look at the limits between personal life and professional life?
No, but it’s evident that the violence that erupts is also the result of the disruption to the professor’s life.

 What interested you about the group dynamics?
Discovering each one of them, that they were all interesting in their own way, that each one existed.

 What sort of freedom would you say the short format allows? 
Since I’ve recently been making longer films, I’m even more aware of the freedom that short films offer. I took advantage of that. You have more freedom to improvise, to try things out in the manner of filming, in the choice of actors and non-actors.

 If you’ve already been to Clermont-Ferrand, could you share with us an anecdote or story from the festival? If not, what are your expectations for this year?
Since I come here pretty often, I have plenty of anecdotes! Once, a group of high school kids wanted to meet me to ask questions about a short that was at the Festival. There were eight or nine of them and they had to give a presentation for their class. One of them had a leg in a cast, another had a little notebook, and another one was wearing a raincoat (maybe his father’s?). They were all very different, and the atmosphere of the interview was really quite weird. They seemed like they were in a hurry and weren’t really there. I didn’t quite understand their questions, which were very general, and I tried to answer them, but I was also trying to understand what was happening, where they wanted to go with it. I finally realized that they hadn’t seen my film – none of them had – and they just wanted me to answer their questionnaire so they could finish their assignment. It was an absurd situation. When I told them that I thought it was ridiculous, they seemed as shocked as me, and they were upset with my reaction. Since I hadn’t finished answering their questions, they had to start over with a completely new questionnaire. I had wasted their time! That story got a good laugh all round. Anyway, it was a long time ago and I smile when I think about it now.

Roméo is part of National Competition F1.