Open discussion with Juliette Binoche

On the occasion of the Greek premiere of Juliette Binoche’s directorial debut, In-I in Motion, at the 28th TiDF, an open discussion took place with the brilliant French star, titled “In front of and behind the camera. My directorial debut in documentary filmmaking.”

The discussion was moderated by Yorgos Krassakopoulos, TFF’s Head of Programming. “It is a great honor to have you here. You have also attended one of our previous editions, however this is your first appearance as a filmmaker and your first endeavor of this nature in general. Watching the documentary, you realize it’s a true work of art. I believe all its magic lies in the fact that it conveys a truth. It carries a sincerity, which is fully in line with your temperament,” Yorgos Krassakopoulos stressed, welcoming TFF’s radiant guest at the packed John Cassavetes theater.

In turn, Juliette Binoche touched upon the profound, often dark but simultaneously liberating internal process, which goes hand in hand with acting, saying that for her art functions as a path to self-awareness. “As an actor, you are called upon every day to be honest, not only with yourself but also with humanity as a whole. You confront your demons, you gaze into the depths of your darkness, your subconscious. Through books, I discovered that these facets of ourselves correspond to a large extent with what we call femininity. It’s a process that makes you grow into a better person, a purer one. That’s why I love acting, because it helps me understand who I am and the reason why I’m here. Such realizations help you let go of the fear and gradually discover your path.”

Speaking about her own trajectory and the drive for artistic development that accompanies her, the actress referred to her desire to explore directing. “I’ve always dreamt that one day I would direct, driven by my need for growth. I was unaware of many aspects of this process, and when producers finally approached me, supporting the idea, I felt that, perhaps, it was meant to be,” she stated, adding that “Many times, you just want to stay at home in your pajamas, but the prospect of exposing yourself to the world and all that’s happening out there inspires you to create. At least in my case it is not a conscious choice, I’m just trying to listen and keep up with the challenges that emerge along the way.” On her intrinsic need to share, something that, as Yorgos Krassakopoulos commented, is expressed through her documentary, she pointed out: “Sharing brings warmth, fosters a sense of community, makes you feel a little less alone, and lets you experience more love. It gives life meaning, and there’s nothing better than that.”

Recalling the experience of creating a documentary, Binoche described the complex emotional journey involved in such a process. “I could make a different film for every emotion I felt throughout the play. One for every joke, one for every conflict, and so on. I tried to put myself in the audience’s place, and initially it was quite difficult because you really have to fight to win them over. There was a lot of confusion but at the same time, I had Susan Batson’s words echoing in my mind: ‘Start from the emotion, but don’t force it,’” Juliette Binoche highlighted, and then went on to add that connecting with our emotions is at the core of every artistic creation. “In a world that often appears terrifying, all we need is creativity. Getting in touch with this aspect of human experience is not always easy because it requires letting go, losing control. But every form of fine art stems precisely from there.”

Referring to her collaboration with prominent directors over the course of her career, Juliette Binoche stressed that the most important lesson has to do with preserving authenticity. “Being yourself and trusting your instincts. There’s no reason to pretend. It is important and difficult at once, because the influences we have are varied. Through the reports we collect over the years, it is important to be able to discern what works for us and what doesn’t, and in this respect, decide whether to incorporate it in our work or not. We must preserve our individuality,” she argued. As she noted, In-I in Motion, a film that documents her creative journey, originated from her desire to confront uncertainty. A process that brought her face to face with her fears and weaknesses. “You can never fully rid yourself of fear. But you can accept it, and when you do so, it transforms you,” she explained.

On the subject of editing, Juliette Binoche admitted that, for her, it was one of the most demanding endeavors. As part of her collaboration with editors, she disclosed that a lot of the decisions taken are deeply personal. “There are instances when you feel as if you’re in a relationship. You and your editor move in parallel, but at the end of the day the choice is up to you. There were some scenes I loved, but they had to be removed, so we could stay faithful to the film’s structure and pacing. There is a certain framework you must follow when making decisions.” Her objective was to compose a film that would portray her lived experience and, as she noted, there were moments during the creative journey when she felt off course. “Allowing yourself to get lost, veer off course, enables you to learn to trust. This is a path that is, at times, difficult to traverse. But often, when you feel like you’re at an impasse, something new begins, and that’s where the joy of existence lies.”

But often, when you feel like you’re at an impasse, something new begins, and that’s where the joy of existence lies. - Juliette Binoche

The acclaimed and renowned actress also spoke about her dual capacity in the documentary In-I In Motion, being both the person in front of the camera, as well as the director. “I was never behind the camera; I was always in front of it. I had the privilege of being filmed by my sister, a professional with extensive experience, and I ended up using the footage she provided me to compose the film. Nevertheless, I had to ensure the authenticity of all that happened through editing. There was one instance, for example, where my editor created a very beautiful scene which, however, failed to reflect reality. And this is precisely why I insisted on not including it in the film,” she emphasized, adding that the search for truth always plays a central role in her artistic expression. “It’s the key to every form of creativity. I am interested in exposing a part of myself through art, whether it reaches a wide audience or not.”

As the President of the European Film Academy, Juliette Binoche remarked: “I believe that European cinema is incredibly rich. Our differences are our power. They unite us.” She also paid homage to the legendary documentary filmmaker, Frederick Wiseman, who recently passed away. “I think of documentary filmmakers as true warriors. They fight for their survival. Making money is difficult, but without their work, we would have a much more limited understanding of the truth of this world.”