LA VILLA
France
Synopsis
Director's Statement
All of these men and all of these women share the same feeling.
They are at a time of life when they have an acute awareness of time passing, of the world changing ...
The paths that they’d opened up are gradually being sealed off.
They must constantly be maintained... or new ones must be opened up.
They know that their world will disappear with them...
They also know that the world will go on without them...
Will it be better, worse?
Thanks to them, because of them?
What will be left of them when they go?
In this situation, suddenly, something happens that may radically overturn all of these thoughts, a kind of Copernican revolution: child survivors from a wrecked boat are hiding in the hills. They are two brothers and a sister, like an echo of Joseph, Armand, and Angèle, and that brings a sense of fraternity back into play, since they decide to keep these children with them.
I believe in this encounter. There is something about “globalisation” that naturally relates to the future.
Though I exaggerate, I’d say that I couldn’t make a film today without talking about refugees: we are living in a country where people are drowning at sea on a daily basis. I deliberately choose the word “refugees”. I don’t care whether it’s due to climate change, for reasons,or because of a war – they are coming in search of a shelter, a hearth.
With these three little ones arriving, perhaps the calanque will be revived? Angèle, Joseph, and Armand will stay there with these three children to raise, and they’re going to try to make the restaurant, the hillside community, and their worldview survive ...
And keep up the connections between a few people... and in that way, maintain peace.
Director's Biography
Filmography:
2017 - THE HOUSE BY THE SEA
2015 - DON’T TELL ME THE BOY WAS MAD
2014 - ARIANE’S THREAD
2011 - THE SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO
2009 - ARMY OF CRIME
2008 - LADY JANE
2006 - ARMENIA
2005 - THE LAST MITTERRAND
2004 - MY FATHER IS AN ENGINEER
2002 - MARIE-JO AND HER TWO LOVERS
2001 - THE TOWN IS QUIET
2000 - CHARGE!
1998 - WHERE THE HEART IS
1997 - MARIUS AND JEANNETTE
1995 - TILL DEATH DO US PART
1993 - MONEY BUYS HAPPINESS
1990 - GOD THROWS UP THE LUKEWARM
1985 - KI LO SA
1984 - RED MIDI
1981 - LAST SUMMER
Cast & Crew
Directed by: Robert Guediguian
Written by: Robert Guediguian, Serge Valletti
Produced by: Marc Bordure, Robert Guediguian
Cinematography: Pierre Milon
Editing: Bernard Sasia
Production Design: Michel Vandestien
Costume Design: Anne-Marie Giacalone
Make-Up & Hair: Hermia Hamzaoui
Sound Design: Laurent Lafran
Cast: Ariane Ascaride (Angèle), Jean-Pierre Darroussin (Joseph), Anaïs Demoustier (Bérangère), Gerard Meylan (Armand), Jacques Boudet (Martin), Robinson Stévenin (Benjamin)
Nominations and Awards
- Feature Film Selection 2018