Louise Deschâtelets showed great generosity when she volunteered to star in a student film filmed two weeks ago in sometimes difficult conditions.
It was the young director Lucas Desrosiers, a film student at UQAM, who contacted the 78-year-old actress through the Union of Artists to offer her to star in his short film. The apprentice filmmaker wanted to give him a character inspired by his grandmother because she adored Ms. Deschâtelets and identified very much with her.
Much to her surprise, the actress, known for her roles in Rooms in the City and Banana Peel, quickly accepted.
“It was really very generous of him,” Lucas Desrosiers admits to the Journal. It was an unpaid student shoot, but she really gave it her all. Sure, I was a little intimidated about leading her at first, but she never made me feel like I knew more than I did. She was very open to me and the entire film crew.”
Filming of the film, entitled “Histoire sans parole”, took place at the end of October in the former house of Lucas Desrosiers’ grandmother on the banks of the Saint-Laurent river in Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly. The weather conditions were catastrophic: cold, wind, pouring rain… For one scene in the film, Louise Deschâtelets had to walk along the shore, pull a rowboat to the water and then row out to sea.
“The conditions were very difficult, but Ms. Deschâtelets was very committed and very friendly to us throughout the filming. She really impressed us,” says Lucas Desrosiers.
Photo provided by Lucas Desrosiers
Like professionals!
In the short film, Louise Deschâtelets slips into the shoes of a woman suffering from a neurological defect. The film, which also stars Frédérique Chaloux, Alexandra Doucet and Sarah-Maude Huneault, explores themes such as aging, cognitive loss due to aphasia and medical euthanasia.
Although the film crew was made up mostly of UQAM students, the actress and Journal columnist immediately felt confident when she arrived on set.
“I came across a team of real professionals,” said Louise Deschâtelets in a telephone interview.
“I never had the feeling that I found myself in a project that didn’t achieve anything. Of course we had to make an effort because the temperature was not on our side and it was not easy to set foot in the river in the pouring rain and strong wind! But when you are surrounded by people you trust, even difficult times become milder. I never felt like I was in a drifting boat because I was in a very well-steered boat. I loved my experience!”
Photo provided by Lucas Desrosiers
This is the first time in her career that Louise Deschâtelets has starred in a student film. She didn’t hesitate to do this because she saw this opportunity as a great chance to give a boost to the next generation.
“Since the scenario suited me very well and the character was believable in my persona, I would have behaved badly if I had refused to go to them and offer my services,” she explains.
“Cinema students are our filmmakers of tomorrow. And when we were young, we were spoiled by teachers who surrounded us and people who agreed to do unpaid projects to help us. In my opinion, we have a duty to give this part back to young people. I wouldn’t have loved myself if I had refused.”
Lucas Desrosiers will present his film at the end of the next session. Louise Deschâtelets will star in the play À la Folie next summer, which will be performed at the Théâtre des Grands Chênes in Kingsey Falls.