Chloé Robichaud began shooting her third feature film on Wednesday Happy Days, in which lead actress Sophie Desmarais contains a conductor. To make his film more realistic and credible, the director found an accomplice and a big ally: Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the project’s artistic advisor.
This is the first time a Quebec conductor, especially the head of the Orchester metropolitan (OM), has worn this hat. Happy Days features Sophie Desmarais as Emma, a young conductor with a toxic relationship with her father, who is also an agent.
Two years ago, the first thing I did was approach him, because I had questions about the conductor’s character and I wanted to talk to him about the script, Chloé Robichaud said. We clicked and he himself said to me: “do you need to coach Sophie and the orchestra?”
Of course, the filmmaker answered yes, much to the delight of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, who was saddened by the lack of realism in rare fiction films featuring orchestras.
Chloe had the extraordinary idea and intelligence to contact me from the beginning, she says. I don’t think this level of detail is achieved much in a film: how an orchestra rehearses, how people relate to an orchestra …
A very invested Yannick Nézet-Séguin
Re -reading the scenes, verifying the details, giving directions to the OM musicians appearing in the film and even performing the orchestra in some particular scenes to give Sophie Desmarais a break … Yannick’s involvement Nézet-Séguin is consistent, this part represents about twenty minutes of the film.
” Yannick was very accommodating and he knew the scenario. He knows what to look for in musicians, we have a great bond. “
He also participates in the selection of music. Over the course of the film, Emma, who doesn’t allow herself to be emotional, has learned to dive a little more into herself, Chloé Robichaud explains. Music makes it possible to discuss this transition towards a less technical and more emotional conductor.
Emma is in a relationship with a musician from the orchestra, Chloé Robichaud is also interested in the experience of the star conductor, who herself has had a long -term relationship with an OM musician.
Strengthen the credibility of Sophie Desmarais
Another contribution from Yannick Nézet-Séguin: helping Sophie Desmarais incorporate her character in a credible way.
To do this, you need to know how to count the beats, put them in the right places, inhabit them and give them meaning, but also know which instruments to look at, he says. It took many steps.
Chefs Nicolas Ellis and Kensho Watanabe supported him in this work.
I was shocked at Sophie’s progresssaid Yannick Nézet-Séguin, who, to guide him, remained close to the camera during filming, which began in Pierre-Mercure’s room at the University of Quebec in Montreal.
In order to fully accomplish his mission as a counselor, he made a definite investigation, going back to the time when he was Emma’s age.
She’s a young chef and there are times when you are a bit awkward and your emotions are more tense. And all these feelings are sent in the direction of an orchestra.
Sylvain Marcel with Sophie Desmarais
The role of Patrick, the father, will be played by Christian Bégin, but ultimately Sylvain Marcel, who we see in René Angélil’s copy in the film. Alinewhich included distribution.
He is a character with many nuances. He can be very stubborn, but also very human all of a sudden, Chloé Robichaud explains. And Sylvain Marcel is capable of so many contrasts.
The film also stars Nour Belkhiria, Maude Guérin, Yves Jacques, Vincent Leclerc, Katherine Levac and Jean-Philippe Baril-Guérard.
Six years have passed since the filmmaker we owe Sarah prefers to run at Country thinking of making this film about a young woman who tries to blossom and become the conductor she aspires to be despite her father touching her.
When the #MeToo movement came along, we started talking more about toxicity in romantic relationships. Often, the toxicity of family relationships is the beginning, violence is rooted in families.
Chloé Robichaud allows herself freedom in the exact form of the story. A film is written in script, then in shooting and then in editing.
Happy Days will be released in 2023.
This text was written froman interview conducted by Eugénie Lépine-Blondeaucultural columnist on the show A whole morning. Comments may have been edited for clarity or brevity.
Source: Radio-Canada
