Night cap with Une place dans l’avion (A Seat on the Plane)

Interview with Khadidiatou Sow, director of Une place dans l’avion (A Seat on the Plane)

 Can you tell us more about what inspired you to tell this story?
I was drawn to this infatuation with emigrating at all cost, even knowing how difficult the voyage would be.

 What is your background as a filmmaker? What made you decide to direct films?  Would you like to focus purely on fiction?
I have had lots of different experiences on set, costumes, scripts, make-up artist. From there, I became interested in directing. I took training courses and began to make documentaries, then fiction, all in short film format. Being a director gives me the opportunity to express myself and share my viewpoint on issues that I am drawn to. I must admit that I am becoming more and more interested in fiction.

 I found it very interesting that in the first five minutes, the image we get of that area of Senegal is one of friendship, camaraderie, music and laughter.
That’s Senegal!

 Is the desperation to escape to the US based on an idealized version of the US? What did you want the audience to get out of this?
I wanted to show the false illusion that motivates people to leave everything behind for that “mirage” on the other side, whether it be America, Europe, or elsewhere: it’s like in a dream, we stubbornly refuse to see reality and insist on going, no matter what the conditions may be.

 Any cinematic coups de cœur in the past year you’d like to tell us about?
Youth by Paolo Sorrentino. I really like the atmosphere in this film.

 If you’ve already been to the Clermont-Ferrand, could you share with us an anecdote or story from the festival ? If not, what are your expectations for this edition?
I have never been to Clermont-Ferrand. I expect to see lots of films, meet other professionals and to enrich my cinematographic knowledge.

Une place dans l’avion is being shown in international competition I14.