Director Valentine Cadic Used the Olympics’ Crowds, Athletes and Fan Zones While Shooting ‘That Summer in Paris’: ‘I Like to Mix Make Believe With Real Life’

by

During the time leading up to last year’s Olympic games in Paris, actor and filmmaker Valentine Cadic decided to stay put instead of joining the mass exodus of locals. She gathered a small team, grabbed a camera, and immersed herself in the bustling crowd to capture “That Summer in Paris.” This film will be screened on February 15 as part of the Perspectives section at the Berlin Film Festival.

Drawing upon her experience in documentaries, and finding motivation from Justine Triet’s debut film “Age of Panic,” which followed a similar approach, Cadic creatively merged reality and fiction. The bustling crowds and fan zones served as high-quality sets for an intimately personal drama centered around a distraught young woman seeking to rebuild relationships with her long-lost relatives.

Cadic shares, “I enjoy blending fiction with reality. As I pondered this occasion, I wondered about the impact it could have on everyone participating – from athletes to spectators, even the city itself. On a creative level, such events drive you to act. When producing a film on a tight budget, there’s always an excuse to postpone, and the financing process can drag on so long that you forget why you wanted to make the movie in the first place. However, having a set deadline and framework kept us focused, motivated, and full of energy.

As a cinephile immersed in the world of cinema, I wholeheartedly appreciated the creative approach taken by Cadic and her team in their latest production. They skillfully capitalized on the spontaneity of live sports events, meticulously crafting various scene iterations that thrived on the unpredictable nature of these competitions.

In the heart of the action, our crew blended seamlessly with the multitude of camera crews present, camouflaging themselves among the throng. The moment one of our background players was inadvertently mistaken for an Olympics staff member by a cluster of spectators, we seized the opportunity to add a touch of authenticity to our film. The extra deftly played along, ad-libbing on the spot, ensuring that a group of unsuspecting tourists remained blissfully unaware of the cinematic magic unfolding before their eyes.

“That’s when we knew our costumes were authentic,” laughs Cadic.

In an interesting twist, the filmmaker enlisted an Olympic athlete, specifically French swimmer Beryl Gastaldello, to contribute to the cast. During her stay within the athletes’ village, she captured footage, and remarkably, incorporated her 100 meter freestyle competition into a crucial storyline. When they returned to film additional scenes, the team encountered an even more bizarre scenario.

According to Cadic, Beryl was both swimming and waving at the sparse crowd, as there were merely around ten spectators in the nearly vacant grandstand overlooking an empty pool where she swam solo. To enhance the ambiance, we cheered along with her team to motivate her.”

or

“Cadic reported that Beryl was swimming and waving at a crowd of just about ten people, who were seated in a mostly empty grandstand overlooking an unoccupied pool where she swam by herself. To create a more lively atmosphere, we joined her team in shouting words of encouragement.

Titled “That Summer in Paris,” this work offers more than just a glimpse of the games; it’s a capturing of the City of Lights during a specific, memorable period – a moment perfectly encapsulated by the distinct circumstances that made this energetic creation possible.

The filmmaker remembers Paris as an unusual scene during the Olympics. Many individuals departed, creating pockets of excitement and vibrancy in certain areas, while other parts of the city became eerily quiet and deserted. This peculiar pause offered a unique opportunity for observation, enabling us to appreciate our surroundings while remaining receptive to unexpected events.

And the filmmaker fully intends to seize on such opportunities going forward.

Cadic enjoys working within boundaries, such as in documentaries, where he must frequently adjust to the environment and deal with the unforeseen,” he states. “He’s cautious about detailed planning because spontaneous moments are often the most memorable. However, it requires a team that can adapt swiftly and integrate real-life elements seamlessly with fictional ones.

Read More

2025-02-15 08:46