Animation filmmaker Theodore Ushev is having a blast in Phi 1.618a first feature film that slays the totalitarianism in place.
“It’s completely unreal!” says the director when we arrive at the Cinémathèque québécoise. I just learned that my film won a prize at the Moscow Film Festival. Of course, I will refuse it. I am against Putin and the war. »
Especially since his feature film is a thinly veiled charge against totalitarianism. A dystopian story about an immortal people, whose divine quest refers to the number phi 1.618 – the famous golden number of the title which evokes the idea of perfection.
It’s a perfect tale to escape censorship. I inserted subliminal images that say as messages “No to war” and “Putin is shit”. You have to be very attentive to see them, because they pass quickly. But they stay in your head. In Russia, it can get you jail.
Theodore Ushev
A humorous and political gesture that perfectly defines this extraordinary project where the risk taking is great. First of all by going from short to feature film, a first for the creator whose famous Vaysha, the blind ended up at the Oscars. Then by swapping animation for live action, forcing his director to direct actors (“I love being the comedians’ psychologist!”), which he had already experienced on his remarkable physics of sadness.
Playful and referential
The 55-year-old Bulgarian filmmaker’s greatest wish was to return to childhood. At that blessed time when he had fun with his favorite toys without asking questions. The book The Spinning Top of his compatriot Vladislav Todorov (who also took care of the scenario) allowed him that. To mix the most improbable genres – science fiction, social satire, romance, goresurrealist and even musical poetry – without owing anything to anyone: his starving budget forced him to outdo himself creatively.
“I didn’t want to go down in the history of cinema with this film, admits the one who has been living in Montreal since 1999. We were in competition in the team to find the sickest, stupidest and most absurd things. »
There are plenty of them in this punk work that makes the big difference between the B series and the cinephilic trip. Moreover, listing all his influences and all his tributes would be tedious as the production casts a wide net, Minecraft to Terry Gilliam, via Tea dark-crystal and Carl Theodor Dreyer.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, THE PRESS
“I cannot invent a sicker universe than the one that exists today,” says Theodore Ushev.
“It’s a film that reflects the main character, who is also my alter ego,” says Theodore Ushev. For 100 years, he remained alone, locked up, copying books. The quotes stayed in his head and they use them while speaking. Like him, I decided to quote in this project all the films, the paintings and the books that I adore. »
Take it or leave it
Phi 1.168 has been circulating in festivals for several months and it has already been shown in Bulgaria where it was filmed. Although the feature film represented this country at the Oscars in 2022, it turns out to be divisive. Quite the opposite of the director’s previous animations which were produced by the National Film Board and which were unanimously acclaimed.
People deeply hate this movie or they love it passionately. There is no gray area.
Theodore Ushev, about Phi 1.618
“And sometimes people don’t know why they love him, adds, bewildered, the main interested party. It’s probably because there are scenes that stick in your head… As my animations are very serious and sometimes even depressing, this time I was looking to have fun with something more joyful. But it’s all instinctive. It wasn’t calculated at all. »
This may be a way of reacting to the prevailing climate. Fight the ambient absurdity with a science fiction therapy that is just as much. “Anything is possible…, reflects Theodore Ushev. But I do believe we live in a dystopian world. I cannot invent a sicker universe than the one that exists today. My film is like social realism. »
Double the fun
On the sidelines of the release of Phi 1.168 is the presentation of the documentary Theodore Ushev: invisible links by Bulgarian Borislav Kolev. A revealing creation on the journey of the renowned filmmaker who builds bridges between his lively offerings and his tumultuous past in a country marked by the communist regime.
“It amused me to play myself in the film, laughs Theodore Ushev. At the same time, I asked myself questions. Is my career over? When people make a documentary about you, you’re dead. I hope it’s not over. Because I still want to make films. I have lots of ideas. »
The essay offers a frank portrait of an artist characterized by his propensity to explore with complete freedom. “For me, that’s creation,” he says. It is to have absolute freedom to express oneself. This is important for the artist, but also for the public and society. I believe in the social role of the artist to change the world. »
Phi 1.618 opens on May 5 and the documentary Theodore Ushev: invisible links May 19.