Naissance des pieuvres (2007)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Céline Sciamma

Writer:

Céline Sciamma (writer)

Release Date:

15 August 2007 (Belgium)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Summer in a new suburb outside Paris. Nothing to do but look at the ceiling. Marie, Anne and Floriane are 15. Their paths cross in the corridors at the local swimming pool, where love and desire make a sudden, dramatic appearance.

Plot Keywords:

Friendship | Swimming Pool | Synchronized Swimming | Female Director | Lesbian Kiss

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Pauline Acquart	...	Marie
Louise Blachère	...	Anne
Adele Haenel	...	Floriane (as Adèle Haenel)
Warren Jacquin	...	François
Christel Baras	...	L'inspectrice
Marie Gili-Pierre	...	La caissière (as Marie Gili Pierre)
Alice de Lencquesaing	...	Fille vestiaire
Claire Pierrat	...	Fille vestiaire 2
Barbara Renard	...	Natacha
Esther Sironneau	...	La vendeuse
Jérémie Steib	...	Le masseur
Yvonne Villemaire	...	La voisine
Christophe Vandevelde	...	Type boîte (as Chrisophe Vandevelde)

Directed by
Céline Sciamma

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Céline Sciamma		writer

Produced by
Bénédicte Couvreur	....	producer
Jérôme Dopffer	....	producer

Original Music by
Jean-Baptiste de Laubier		(as Para One)

Cinematography by
Crystel Fournier

Film Editing by
Julien Lacheray

Casting by
Christel Baras
Laure Cochener

Production Design by
Gwendal Bescond

Art Direction by
Pascal Leguellec

Set Decoration by
Geraldine Laferte

Costume Design by
Marine Chauveau

Makeup Department
Marie Luiset	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Hakim Cherikh	....	unit manager trainee
Bénédicte Couvreur	....	production manager
Maud Quiffet	....	unit manager
Bachir Sareh	....	assistant unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Delphine Daull	....	first assistant director
Yann Kaïm	....	trainee assistant director
Jérémie Steib	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Pascal Leguellec	....	first assistant production designer
Olivia Talan	....	property master

Sound Department
Pierre André	....	sound mixer
Francis Bernard	....	sound trainee
Franck Duval	....	boom operator
Stéphane Le Dall	....	boom operator
Daniel Sobrino	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mathieu Villien	....	sound trainee

Camera and Electrical Department
Jacques Ballard	....	first assistant camera: underwater unit
François Chevreau	....	first assistant camera
Jonas Kail	....	grip
Jérémie Leloup	....	key grip
Richard Mercier	....	second camera operator
Cyril Mousseigne	....	best boy electric
Muriel Olivier	....	gaffer
Stéphane Raymond	....	second assistant camera
Julien Saffroy	....	additional grip
Philippe Vene	....	camera operator: underwater unit

Casting Department
Thomas Bidart	....	extras casting

Editorial Department
Jean-Christophe Bouzy	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Roselyne Bellec	....	script supervisor
Christophe Régin	....	production secretary
Véronique Ruggia	....	acting coach

Thanks
Philippe Carcassonne	....	thanks
Elisabeth Depardieu	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Balthazar Productions
• Canal+ (participation)
• Région Ile-de-France (participation)
• Arte / Cofinova 3
• Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC)

Distributors

• Haut et Court (2007) (France) (theatrical)
• Cinemien (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• ABC Distribution (2007) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Koch Lorber Films (2008) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Slingshot Studios (2008) (UK) (theatrical)
• Homescreen (2008) (Belgium) (DVD)
• Homescreen (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Koch Lorber Films (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• NetFlix (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Optimale (2009) (France) (DVD)
• PRO-FUN media Filmverleih (2008) (Germany) (all media)
• Red Envelope Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Les pieuvres (France) (working title)
Water Lilies (International: English title)

Runtime:

France:85 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:14A | UK:15 | Japan:PG-12 | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Cergy, Val-d'Oise, France

Company:

Balthazar Productions

Subtle french film about adolescence

Not everything is said in this excellent first feature from Céline Sciamma. The friendship, the "wanting to fit in", the first sexual feelings... All this and much more is sublimated through the underwater synchro swimming scenes.

All three girls in the movie try to find and express their personality in a very different way. It is a much less violent approach to the understanding of the teenage years compared to, say, "Thirteen", but a very worthwhile trip nonetheless.

A must see, and please leave all American cinematographic preconceptions at he door. The soundtrack is A+ by the way.

Bon cinéma !