“It’s a film about a normal teenager… with slightly different problems,” Ariane Louis-Seize announces with a laugh. For her first feature film, the filmmaker chose to focus on vampires and had a blast on this vast playground examining deeply human themes.
The strong director of several award-winning short films (The wild skin, Like a comet, Small waves) barely landed from a dream summer to travel with his film. Humanist vampire seeking consenting suicide was a hit at the Venice Film Festival in early September, where it won in the parallel Giornate degli Autori (Venice Days) section of the international festival.
“An extraordinary experience. We are so proud,” she says, already announcing the special bond that has developed between the members of the film team. “It’s really crazy to receive all this love for the characters and the universe we created. »
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Ariane Louis-Seize
The title Humanist vampire seeking consenting suicide intrigues as much as its premise. Sasha (Sara Montpetit) is a vampire who suffers from a very particular ailment: she doesn’t want to bite. To the great dismay of his family, whose members negotiate this reality each in their own way. Her sensitive father (Steve Laplante) tries to protect her, her mother (Sophie Cadieux) is exhausted from managing the mental load and her aunt (Marie Brassard) is overwhelmed by the situation: “Your parents are not a buffet! “, she says.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY PRODUCTION
Ariane Louis-Seize (right) directs Sara Montpetit and Noémie O’Farrell on the film set.
Unlikely duo
Forced to find a solution to ensure her survival and temporarily entrusted to her cousin Denise – a true bloodthirsty seductress – to learn how to kill, Sasha meets young Paul (Félix-Antoine Bénard), who is being bullied and is considering the idea of killing oneself. An improbable and touching connection will develop between these two beings who are looking for each other.
“Sasha and Paul feel excluded from their respective worlds. They are trying to grow, to understand each other. And it’s together that they get there,” explains Sara Montpetit. “Both must find a way to continue living while remaining true to themselves,” adds his playing partner, Félix-Antoine Bénard.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Félix-Antoine Bénard and Sara Montpetit
If their first joint audition was punctuated by silences and discomfort and completely destabilized them, it was rather a revelation for Ariane Louis-Seize, who found in this “anti-chemistry” exactly the tone of her film. “Their meeting was something delectable,” says the director. A fine, funny and above all touching discomfort. I rushed to book them. »
Obviously, a chemistry has developed since then, in real life, because the young actors complete each other’s sentences and have the same favorite scenes. “There is one in particular that I liked, where we are in the bedroom,” notes Félix-Antoine Bénard. ” Yes ! That of dancing and allergy to dust mites! », Intervenes Sara Montpetit. “Every time we turned it, we couldn’t stop cramping,” they say. We tried so hard not to laugh that we almost always laughed. »
The turn of the Quebec public
Co-written with Christine Doyon, screenwriter whose brain the filmmaker “loves”, Humanist vampire is the first comedy by Ariane Louis-Seize, who wanted to have fun and go further with humor. “I am more used to strange worlds, solitary and observant characters who let themselves be guided by their instinct. While Christine is concrete in her writing, funny and a very good dialogue writer. I wanted to combine these two worlds,” she explains.
Even if she doesn’t make films with an audience in mind, Ariane Louis-Seize can’t wait to present the fruit of her work at home. “It was really well received everywhere, but it’s still above all a Quebec film,” she says.
Does she believe that local moviegoers will be drawn into her proposal with as much enthusiasm as festival audiences? “I wanted to make a good film, one coming of age which presents young people, but which is not aimed just at them. And the feedback I have received so far proves to me that… I succeeded! », says the director.
Humanist vampire seeking consenting suicide will have its Quebec premiere at the Festival du nouveau cinéma (FNC) this Tuesday, October 10 at 7 p.m. at the Cinéma Impérial and October 12 at 6:30 p.m. at the Cineplex Quartier Latin. The film will be released in theaters on October 13.
Comedy
Humanist vampire seeking consenting suicide
Ariane Louis-Seize
With Sara Montpetit, Félix-Antoine Bénard, Steve Laplante, Sophie Cadieux, Noémie O’Farrell, Marie Brassard, Patrick Hivon and Marc Beaupré
1h30
The vampiric inspirations of Ariane Louis-Seize
The Hungerby Tony Scott (1983)
“ The Hunger is the origin of my fascination. It was the first time that I discovered vampires who existed in a contemporary world and that their interiority was more developed. It’s a sensual film with an incredible cast. I am also offering a double bill as part of Halloween with my film followed by The Hunger at Cinéma Moderne on October 26. »
Only Lovers Left Aliveby Jim Jarmusch (2013)
“This Jim Jarmusch film takes place in a ghost Detroit… The main characters were extremely aesthetically inspiring. The director has a lot of fun with the eras and there is an offbeat, humorous side. Vampires can walk into a bar, look a little strange, but still blend in. »
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Nightby Ana Lily Amirpour (2014)
“For the human social issues reflected by the figure of the vampire, and for the youthful and slightly punk side. The main character walks around Bad City, an Iranian ghost town, with a skateboard stolen from a little boy on the street. It’s a truly unique film that turns the rules on its head. »