“It’s a film about a normal teenager… with slightly different problems,” says Ariane Louis-Seize with a laugh. For her first feature film, the filmmaker focused on vampires and had a lot of fun in this massive playground exploring deeply human themes.
Posted at 7:00 am.
The strong director of several award-winning short films (The Wild Skin, Like a Comet, Little Waves) has barely returned from a dream summer to travel with her film. Humanist Vampire Seeks Consenting Suicide was all the rage at the Venice Film Festival in early September, where it won in the international festival’s parallel Giornate degli Autori (Venice Days) section.
“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 experience so much love for the characters and universe we’ve created. »
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Ariane Louis Seize
The title “Humanist Vampire Seeks Consenting Suicide” is as intriguing as its premise. Sasha (Sara Montpetit) is a vampire who suffers from a very special illness: she doesn’t want to bite. Much to the dismay of his family, whose members come to terms with this reality in their own ways. Her sensitive father (Steve Laplante) tries to protect her, her mother (Sophie Cadieux) is exhausted from dealing with the psychological stress 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.
Unusual duo
Forced to find a solution to ensure her survival, Sasha is temporarily entrusted to her cousin Denise – a true bloodthirsty seductress – to learn how to kill. She meets young Paul (Félix-Antoine Bénard), who is being bullied and is contemplating the idea of killing himself. An unlikely and touching connection emerges 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 together they can do it,” explains Sara Montpetit. “Both have to find a way to live on and stay true to each other,” adds his playing partner Félix-Antoine Bénard.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Félix-Antoine Bénard and Sara Montpetit
While their first audition together was characterized by silence and discomfort and completely destabilized her, it was more of a revelation for Ariane Louis-Seize, who found exactly the tone of her film in this “anti-chemistry”. “Their meeting was something delicious,” says the director. A subtle, funny and above all touching discomfort. I rushed to book her. »
Apparently chemistry has developed in real life since then, as the young actors complement each other and share the same favorite scenes. “There is one that I particularly liked where we are in the bedroom,” notes Félix-Antoine Bénard. ” Yes! The dancing and the allergy to dust mites! », intervenes Sara Montpetit. “Every time we shot it we couldn’t stop tensing up,” they say. We tried so hard not to laugh that we almost always laughed.”
The turning point of the Quebec public
Co-written with Christine Doyon, the screenwriter whose brain the filmmaker “loves,” Humanist Vampire is the first comedy from Ariane Louis-Seize, who wanted to have fun and go further with humor. “I’m more used to strange worlds, lonely and attentive characters who are guided by their instincts. While Christine is specific in her writing, funny and a very good dialogue writer. I wanted to combine these two worlds,” she explains.
Even though she doesn’t make films for the public, Ariane Louis-Seize can’t wait to show off the fruits of her labor at home. “The film was very well received everywhere, but it is still primarily a Quebec film,” she says.
Does she think local moviegoers will be as enthusiastically drawn to her proposal as festival audiences? “I wanted to make a good film, a coming-of-age film that introduces young people but is not just aimed at them. And the feedback I’ve received so far proves to me that… I succeeded! » says the director.
“Humanist Vampire in Search of Consented Suicide” premieres this Tuesday, October 10th at 7pm at the Cinéma Impérial and on October 12th at 6:30pm at the Cineplex Quartier Latin at the Festival du nouveau cinéma (FNC) in Quebec Premiered. The film hits theaters on October 13th.
comedy
Humanist vampire seeks consensual 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 Hunger of Tony Scott (1983)
“Hunger is the origin of my fascination. It was the first time I discovered vampires that existed in a contemporary world and were more developed inside. It’s a sensual film with an incredible cast. I am also offering a double program as part of Halloween with my film and the subsequent film “The Hunger” at the Cinéma Moderne on October 26th. »
Only Lovers Left Alive, by Jim Jarmusch (2013)
“This film by Jim Jarmusch takes place in a ghost Detroit…The main characters were aesthetically extremely inspiring. The director has a lot of fun with the eras and there is also an offbeat, humorous side. Vampires can walk into a bar, look a little strange, but still fit in. »
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, by Ana Lily Amirpour (2014)
“For the human social issues reflected in the figure of the vampire and for the youthful and slightly punk side. The main character runs through Bad City, an Iranian ghost town, with a skateboard that was stolen from a little boy on the street. It’s a truly unique film that turns the rules on their head. »