UK
Synopsis
Director's Statement
However, once we started work on the film, the idea began to evolve into something that felt much bigger in scope. We realised that a queer reframing of such a hetero-centric genre was the perfect way to explore - and explode - conventional ideas of sexuality, masculinity, patriarchy, and identity. Our conversations around these topics brought up a lot for us as gay men about things that terrify us and things that make us rage.
As we dug deeper, we came to the conclusion that the film we wanted to make was, at its core, about drag. And not only the more recognisable feminine drag that Jules dons at the beginning of the story. Almost every character in the film wears a form of drag: a performance of gender that earns them power and status in the world they inhabit. Femme delves into what happens when those masks are challenged.
We hope that in adopting and subverting familiar devices from many films that we love, we have created a space for Femme that is all its own. In a way the film itself is wearing a form of drag. It’s a dark story, and we decided early on that we weren’t interested in making a moralistic film, where the good guys take the high road and the bad guys always get their comeuppance.
Our interest lies in exploring the reality of the characters and how the world they live in propels them into doing the things that they do. Making Femme was both exhilarating and cathartic for us, and we hope to bring you along on that same journey.
Cast & Crew
Directed by: Ng Choon Ping, Sam H. Freeman
Written by: Sam H. Freeman, Ng Choon Ping
Main Producer: Myles Payne, Sam Ritzenberg
Cinematography: James Rhodes
Editing: Selina Macarthur
Production Design: Christopher Melgram
Costume Design: Buki Ebiesuwa
Make-Up & Hair: Marie Deehan
Original Score: Adam Janota Bzowski
Sound: John Campbell
Visual Effects: David Horsburgh
Casting: Julie Harkin, Nathan Toth
Cast: George McKay (Preston), Nathan Stewart-Jarrett (Jules)
Nominations and Awards
- Feature Film Selection 2023