As a movie buff with a penchant for discovering fresh talent, I find Alexandra Simpson‘s debut feature, “No Sleep Till,” nothing short of captivating. Having spent my formative years in the Atlantic coastal town of Neptune Beach, Fla., I can attest to the authenticity that drips off the screen like the humidity itself. The film is a poignant testament to the charm and vulnerability of small-town life, under the ever-present threat of gentrification and nature’s wrath.
As I, a devoted cinephile, delve into my first directorial and writing endeavor with “No Sleep Till,” screening at Venice Critics Week, let me share my perspective on this captivating, visually alluring tale set in a tranquil Florida beach hamlet teetering on the brink of a hurricane. The lens through which Sylvain Froidevaux captures this world is soaked with humidity, as teenagers revel in parties and skateboarding, and a lone girl rings up sales at a nearly deserted souvenir shop. In this quaint town, you’ll find an aspiring comedian and his confidant, who struggle to transition from local stages to the bustling comedy clubs in the north; a calm-hearted storm chaser; and dedicated public pool keepers. The inhabitants of this town are also grappling with the impending threat of gentrification, which could force them out of their cherished hometown.
Born in Paris, Simpson spent her childhood there, yet she spent her summer vacations in the Florida beach town of Neptune, where most of the movie was filmed. This location provided a snapshot of a lifestyle that is gradually fading away in the state.
“She carefully selected these locations because they represent the remnants of old Florida. On my subsequent visits, I’ve noticed that things are constantly changing and becoming more modernized. They’re bigger and shinier now,” she notes. “Her aim, during the approach of a hurricane, was to emphasize the vulnerability of the remaining, antiquated wooden homes. This choice created an underlying sense of tension.”
But her specificity leads to a universal feeling.
She explains that when tackling this project, she approached it with both an alien’s perspective and a European’s viewpoint, despite being very familiar with the town, offering her an outsider’s view as well. Simpson reveals that her script wasn’t intended to unfold in a traditional narrative format. Instead, she aimed to capture specific behaviors and moments of vulnerability that felt poetic. Having an ensemble cast enabled her to delve deeply into these themes while also focusing on the tone, atmosphere, and setting, rather than being bound by a suspenseful storyline. Simpson expresses empathy and tenderness towards her characters throughout the process.
She remarks, “Their solitude holds immense strength because it uniquely ties them to this particular town, bestowing on them an almost ethereal sense of belonging.”
The movie hails from the Omnes Film cooperative, known for having two of its productions, “Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point” by Tyler Taormina and “Eephus” by Carson Lund, shown at Directors’ Fortnight during Cannes. Interestingly, Tyler Taormina is also a producer for “No Sleep Till.”
By happenstance, Simpson stumbled upon a poster for Taormina’s movie “Ham on Rye” and felt captivated. The film resonated with her deeply due to its innovative style that was both unexpected and profound. It left a lasting impression on her. Eventually, she contacted him, and they eventually collaborated on the project, with Taormina joining as a producer. This collaboration proved to be extraordinary.
The “No Sleep Till” team consists entirely of friends from film school in Geneva. Although the teaching was hands-on, it had an experimental feel since various filmmakers came to conduct workshops and they were encouraged to experiment with diverse methods for realizing their visions.
For her upcoming movie, she plans to adopt a conventional storyline, with a setting in a small rural town in America. She intends to portray the dynamic between two young sisters and their ailing father. A fair located nearby will serve as a backdrop, subtly influencing the narrative flow. The film will have multiple layers but will follow a more straightforward narrative approach, as she aims to push her writing abilities in this particular style.
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2024-09-02 19:16