CINEMED: Inspiring meeting with the team behind the film L'Âme idéale

As part of the partnership between CinéCréatis and the CINEMED Festival, students had the chance to immerse themselves in the heart of the festival for a week of screenings, meetings and film discoveries.

One of the highlights was the screening ofAlice Vial‘s film L’Âme idéale . The film tells the story ofElsa, a doctor who hides from the rest of the world the fact that she can see the dead and helps them “cross over” to the other side. Convinced that her gift provokes rejection, she has given up on love affairs and shut herself away in solitude and work. Until the day she meets Oscar, a dead man who doesn’t know he’s dead…

The screening was attended by director Alice Vial, Jonathan Cohen and Magalie Lépine Blondeau, and co-writer Jean-Toussaint Bernard. For over an hour, the students were able to talk to the film team about various aspects of the creative process, from writing to directing.

The discussions began with a look at the stages involved in writing a film. Alice Vial, Jonathan Cohen and Jean-Toussaint Bernard shared their methods: writing with others, reading dialogue aloud, accepting the imperfections of a first draft… All invaluable advice for young aspiring screenwriters.

The team also spoke about the choice of Le Havre as the location for the film: the autumnal light and natural scenery of the town matched the atmosphere of the film perfectly.

Jonathan Cohen, with his usual enthusiasm, was keen to emphasise the exceptional cohesion of the team, praising Alice Vial’s ability to unite technicians and actors around a common project: “Alice was able to transform the shoot into a real family”.

Another highlight of the discussion was the film’s music. An avid soundtrack fan, Alice Vial explained how much she enjoys writing by listening to film music. Finding the right composition to accompany the character of Oscar was a real artistic challenge.

The meeting ended with a particularly lively question and answer session. The students questioned the speakers on practical subjects such as location scouting and the various stages of editing.

Jonathan Cohen, who is heavily involved in production and writing, shared his experience of versatility: “You have to try everything, touch everything: acting, writing, production… It’s by exploring that you find your way”.

He also stressed an essential point for any young artist: don’t compare yourself to others.

“Some mates will break through before you, others afterwards… Everyone moves at their own pace. The most important thing is to stick with it, stay curious and never give up.

A strong message, supported by Alice Vial and Jean-Toussaint Bernard, about the resilience and perseverance needed in the artistic professions. They all encouraged the students to embrace doubts, failures and second-guessing as essential stages in their creative journey.