Why ’Ari’ Helmer Léonor Serraille Thinks a Low Profile Serves Her Best as Director: ‘You Have to Remain at Eye Level, and You Have to Blend in’

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Leonor Serraille‘s career is one that many aspiring directors could only dream of. She won the Camera d’Or for her debut film “Montparnasse Bienvenue” in 2017, followed by her sophomore feature “Mother and Son,” which was screened at Cannes’ competition in 2022. For as long as people have known about her, this thirty-something director has maintained a low profile, avoiding social media and residing outside of Paris. She is also known for being secretive about her achievements.

For quite some time, I kept my career in the film industry hidden from others,” Serraille admits. “I prefer anonymity and feeling like part of a larger group. This line of work requires not looking down on people, but rather being at their level and fitting in.

In Serraille’s Golden Bear nominated film “Ari,” raw emotions are vividly portrayed. The movie was filmed on Super 16 film stock and is devoid of makeup or vanity, focusing instead on the authenticity of the characters. The story revolves around a young student teacher whose life unravels following a professional breakdown. As the troubled protagonist moves from couch to couch across the city of Lille, “Ari” sheds light on a broader generational anxiety.

Serraille devised the project by conducting workshops at France’s national drama school, using students from within its ranks to create a spontaneous atmosphere – yet she also dived deeper, filming in locations familiar to her due to over a decade spent in Lille, and pulling inspiration from personal and professional struggles.

Serraille admits she felt stirred up,” she says, as her last film didn’t resonate with audiences as she had expected. “It seemed peculiar because I had poured so much into it — perhaps too much. I was adrift, and needed to approach my work differently — to let things ferment and emerge naturally through collaboration, improvisation, and documentary-style techniques. Everything here felt vibrant, swift, and intense.

Initially attracted to the concept of teacher trainees, the project subtly transformed at every improvisational session, sparking the filmmaker’s desire to replicate those spontaneous interactions and the raw feelings they generated.

In the class, the filmmaker notes, the younger students appeared more delicate. They were extremely sensitive, unrefined, and slightly disenchanted, which both puzzled and comforted him. What intrigued him most was these young men’s willingness to expose their vulnerabilities, finding courage in expressing their feelings — this became his main focus.

She goes on to say that the themes and concerns in her movies are consistent. They revolve around questions like ‘What happens when we stumble?’ and ‘How do we recover when things go awry?’ These topics have traditionally been approached differently for male and female characters; men are often portrayed as stoic in facing these challenges, whereas women are permitted to show more vulnerability. However, this dynamic is starting to shift now.

Certainly, standing beside lead actor Andranic Manet, “Ari” adopts a slower pace that director Serraille believes is lacking in today’s digital world.

The filmmaker expresses a preference for slowing down during this fast-paced era. Instead of rushing through life, he wants to take his time to connect with people by looking them in the eye and truly listening to them. His artistic endeavors aim to provide him with this opportunity to immerse himself in the richness of human interaction – the feelings, expressions, and emotions that can only be experienced when taking things slow. Essentially, he desires to savor time as a precious gift.

In the character “Ari,” there’s always an element of uncertainty as to whether he’ll crack, weep, chuckle, grin, or even dance, she points out. This mirrors the complex and constantly changing aspects within us. Today’s younger generation may feel disheartened by societal issues, yet they can also be highly creative, compassionate, and resilient. Individuals in their late 20s and early 30s might wonder about life’s purpose, a question that deserves to be addressed in cinema. To me, this speaks volumes about the world’s state, offering a sense of comfort and reassurance.

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2025-02-15 20:46