Lights Out: Interview with Fabrice Gobert

Screened today in Un Certain Regard. Simon Werner a disparu (Lights Out) is a first french film about adolescence, with a few heavy hitters in the credits:  the producers of Persepolis, Agnès Godard as DOP, Sonic Youth for the original soundtrack. The director, Fabrice Gobert, who is competing for the Caméra d’Or, gives his very first interview.

Is this your first time at Cannes?
Yes. I never came to the Festival, I followed it from Paris with great passion, but I’d never had the opportunity to come here to see any films.

Simon Werner is your first feature. What was your very first film?
I made a short film in 1998 as part of a scriptwriting course organised by MK2 on the theme of respect. I was 25 years old, and I knew absolutely nothing. The short film wasn’t great, so I realised I had to learn and work. I gained experience: TV series with young actors, a documentary series about directors’ first films (Michael Haneke, Emanuele Crialese, Lars Von Trier).

How long did it take to make a first feature film?
From the moment I had the idea, it took five months to write. Then I saw my producers in November and we started preparing the film in February of the following year. Since we were shooting in a school with young people, it needed to be shot in the summer. So, everyone got completely over-excited, with the idea it had to be shot in a hurry.

Is it a fairytale?
Yes, above all to end up at Cannes. It’s a pretty unbelievable conclusion. When I found out, it was like I’d won the World Cup. I was very happy for the film and all those who’ve worked on it. It’s wonderful to know that the film will be screened in good conditions and it has a chance of being seen. There are so many first films coming out every year.

What’s your first cinema memory?
The Beast in Beauty and the Beast. It gave me nightmares. Seeing it again, I don’t find it very frightening, but at the time, it made an enormous impression.

Your first emotion?
ET. That was a great moment. I was 8-9 years old, and I believe I cried a lot when ET went home to his planet.

The first director you admired?
When I was a schoolboy, I went to see S’en fout la mort. I used to live where it was taking place. This film had great impact on me, and so did Claire Denis. But maybe it’s a bit odd saying that when she’s President of the Jury for Un Certain regard, maybe you’d better take that out…

The first person that you want to thank straight away?
Agnès Godard accepted to do the film very quickly. Many people came on board because she was there. It was a real joy to make the film with her.

A final word?
It’s absolutely great to be here.

 

 

B de M