Category: Cinémathèque Française

Unspoken

Produced by a group of students from the London Nautical school who are participating in a film-making programme established by the Cinémathèque Française in Paris called ‘Le Cinéma, cent ans de jeunesse’ (Cinema, 100 years young), this short film is their final “essai” solution to the challenging brief provided by the Cinémathèque

This film was conceived, written, performed, filmed and edited by students. There were adults around, we filled out the forms, kept the batteries charged, mediated the conversations and did the boring post-production.

The film premiered at the Cinémathèque Française in Paris on The 7th of June 2013.

Here are some of the notices from the “Godfather” of the ‘Le Cinéma, cent ans de jeunesse’ (Cinema, 100 years young) programme Alain Bergala:

  • “C’est un film où l’on voit, on sent.”
  • “Pas besoin de dire, tout est là.” 
  • “C’est un film de cinéaste.” 
  • “C’est costaud.” 
  • “Mieux que certains films de la Fémis.” 
  • “Quelle preuve de maturité, c’est extraordinaire pour des gens de cet âge-là.” 
  • “et puis ce n’était pas un film bien-pensant” 
  • “j’ai été très ému.” 
  • “certes il n’y a pas de compétition mais s’il y a un film qui sort du lot c’est bien celui des p’tits anglais”
Margaux Guillemard, our delegate at the final summary, hesitated to translate it into English, as she was afraid the translation might “impair the purity of Bergala’s words for this work”, but then she thought about the boys… here is her approximate translation:

  • “It is a film where we see, and feel”
  • “(…) where there is no need to put word on things, everything is there in front of you”
  • “C’est un film de cinéaste.” -> ‘cinéaste’ means ‘professional film director’, but a director who is an artist before anything else. It is an old French expression which emphasizes the opposition between commercial cinema and pure, creative and artistic cinema
  • “It is a solid film”
  • “Better than some films made by the student of La Fémis”  -> ‘La Fémis’ is a French film school, one of the most prestigious in the world
  • “It demonstrates so much maturity, it is extraordinary for people of this age”
  • “And it wasn’t a conformist film!”
  • “This film really moved me”
“Sure, Cinéma: Cent ans de Jeunesse isn’t about competition, but if one film had to stand out, it would be the one by the small Brits!“

Saturday Filming Schedule

11:10 Film end of Scene One: Adi Departs Park, shot of Barnaby Following.
11:30 Relocate to constrained space
11:40 Film: Adi crouched reading his book, Shot first from above, then from side with view to where Barnaby will enter. They get on with one of their reading exercises
+ Film later scene where Barnaby apologises. + Final scene: Filmed on camera phone where the group discover Adi and Barnaby
12:40 Lunch Break
13:00 continue before lunch scenes
14:00 New Location: (South Bank) Barnaby and gang (what are they doing?) encounter Adi and this time chase him off
Same time, new scene: Barnaby is challenged by Asim on jetty about why he didn’t join the bullying of Adi (gang in the background)
15:00 Fin.

Final Film Essai – Plot Proposal

 

Main Characters:

  • Character 1: He has two sides to him: on one hand he is the Popular Guy, Bit of a bully, Cocky or Boastful and on the other hand, in private or with his friend (Character 2) he can be caring, somewhat sensitive and protective.
  • Character 2: Shy, is often easily the target of ‘banter’ (bullying), doesn’t have a wide group of friends, is a bit of a geek –
  • Character 3: One of the mates of Character 1, ‘second in line’ in the group’s hierarchy. Jealous and vindictive and always does whatever Character 1 tells him to do. Has no real friends.
  • Character 4: Quiet, but has a quick temper, bit of a thug, he’s the ‘handyman’. sometimes comes to school late with a few bruises.

Plot Outline:

  1. Character 1 and his mates hanging out and fooling around until Character 1 heads off home – in a different direction to the others. 
  2. He then meets (it’s unclear whether this was pre-arranged) Character 2 (They take the same way home, have lived in the same, fair, neighbourhood for a long time) This could be the elevator scene or the ‘constrained space’. 
  3. New day, Character 2 encounters Character 1, this time with all his mates around – they all spot Character 2 and make to bully him, as is usual for them. Character 1 holds back. Character 2 runs off.
  4. Character 1 is challenged by Character 3 about why he was being friendly to Character 2. Character 1 storms off angrily.
  5. At the end of that day Character 1 is seen on his own on his way home until he reaches the lift (The return to the constrained space) where Character 2 can be seen approaching from a distance. Character 1 tries to explain himself. Character 2 tries to reject the apology, but it’s clear through his expression that he’s torn.
  6. A scene with no dialogue where Characters 1 and 2 are hanging out and clearly enjoying each other’s company.
  7. Finishes with the arrival of the other characters (everything left inconclusive)