Môme

MÔME, the latest project from directors Juliette and Anaïs, plunges viewers into non-stop tension as it tells the story of Sandra, a woman who loses her child at birth and, lost in psychotic denial, decides to steal a baby from the maternity ward. The baby’s father, determined to get his daughter back, embarks on a frantic chase.

The origins of the project
Juliette, fascinated by the intense desire for motherhood and the trauma that a loss can cause, wanted to explore this complex subject, which is rarely tackled in film. “I wanted to understand the psychological depth of such a loss,” she confides. Anaïs, who joined the project at an advanced stage of its creation, found immense richness in the character of Sandra, a tragic yet complex figure who evokes compassion without excusing her actions. Together, they fine-tuned the script and the issues at stake in the film.

An evolution at CinéCréatis
For Anaïs, MÔME represents the culmination of her three years of training. Her first short film, La dernière, had already laid some solid foundations, but it was with MÔME that she really explored some far-reaching technical and scriptwriting challenges. Juliette, for her part, experienced a parallel evolution, stepping out of her comfort zone to make a film that was as demanding logistically (shooting at night, multiple sets) as it was psychologically.

Choosing the team and actors
The choice of team members was based on motivation and commitment rather than experience. “We needed a team ready to commit to a difficult project, and we were lucky enough to work with some exceptional people,” explains Anaïs. The actors and actresses were also chosen instinctively, starting with Amélie Zorzetto, who plays Sandra. “She exuded exactly what we were looking for,” recalls Juliette. For the role of the father, Nicolas was selected on Amélie’s recommendation. The complicity between the two actors, who are friends in life, made it easier for them to work together on the film.

The visual and sound challenge
MÔME is a psychological thriller in which the soundscape plays a crucial role in maintaining constant tension. Anaïs and Juliette opted for an oppressive soundtrack and an absence of dialogue to reinforce the impact of the actions and emotions. Visually, the use of night and underexposed sets helped to create a sense of visual unease, accentuated by the make-up and the direction of the actors, particularly Sandra.

The difficulties of production
Among the major challenges, the chase was particularly complex to manage, not least because of budgetary constraints. Juliette, a fan of action films, was apprehensive about the ‘cheapness’ of the scene, but thanks to creative solutions, the team managed to maintain the intensity without sacrificing the essence of the film.