AlloCiné spoke with director Alice Diop, on the occasion of the release of Saint Omer, which represents France at the 2023 Oscars. This drama is freely inspired by a news item that had greatly moved.
After a remarkable career in documentaries (distinguished by a César for short film, and a prize at the Berlinale in 2021), Alice Diop is releasing her first feature film, Saint Omer, on view this Wednesday, November 23.
Saint Omer has received several international awards including the Silver Lion in Venice, and he has been selected to represent France at the Oscars this year.
Saint Omer parallels two trajectories, that of Laurence Coly, accused of infanticide and Rama, a young novelist who attends the trial, with in particular a whole trial film part with a captivating staging and a very specific device which we are going to talk about during this interview with Alice Diop. The opportunity also to talk about the media whirlwind around the filmmaker, or even the news item that gave rise to the inspiration for this film.
The pitch: Rama, a young novelist, attends the trial of Laurence Coly at the Assize Court of Saint-Omer. The latter is accused of having killed her fifteen-month-old daughter by abandoning her at the rising tide on a beach in northern France. But during the trial, the word of the accused, listening to the testimonies make Rama’s certainties waver and question our judgement.
Listen to our interview with Alice Diop, director of Saint Omer.
Credits:
Journalist – presenter: Brigitte Baronnet
Directed by: Nathan Blanchard / Ando Raminoson