Playing at the Thursday April 20, 2017 FEMALE FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto.
LE BELLE FOLIE, 14min, UK, Comedy
Directed by Ruth Pickett
A comedy about a desperate actress who attempts to make a black-and-white french language film, in order to convince her agent that she’s good enough at french to put her up for an audition. She ropes in her dad, her best friend, and her dad’s friend Mr Harris. It doesn’t go well.
Director Statement
I am passionate about creating visually compelling comedies, and with ‘La Belle Folie’ I wanted to create something which was visually bold and imaginative, as well as being hilarious.
The notion of having the protagonist’s brother as the cameraman allowed us to experiment with a playful style in which the camera has its own personality – part mockumentary, part pseudo-french cinema. It is beautifully shot but is simultaneously a little shaky and quirky, with a rough-around-the-edges charm.
I was keen to inject a similar sense of personality to other aspects of the film – such as the costumes and props, which are gloriously imperfect, but also impressively detailed – hinting both at the protagonist’s desperation for everything to be perfect, and her decided lack of self-awareness.
Underlying the story is the protagonist’s dysfunctional relationship with everyone around her – including herself – which is served by some wonderfully funny performances from the actors. I’m very excited to share this film at festivals and hope audiences enjoy its playful sense of humour.
Film Type:Short
Runtime:14 minutes 32 seconds
Completion Date:September 5, 2016
Production Budget:1,000 GBP
Country of Origin:United Kingdom
Country of Filming:United Kingdom
Film Language:English
Shooting Format:RED
Aspect Ratio:16:9
Film Color:Black & White and Color
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