(l. to r.) Alexandre Perreault and Félix Grenier in a scene from Fauve.
When does childhood end? Is it simply the passage of time that marks its transition? Or could an event be so life changing in its devastation that leaving behind the part that is a child is a must, simply for survival?
With Fauve, Director Jérémy Comte presents a compelling study of two boys Tyler, (Félix Grenier) and Benjamin (Alexandre Perreault), who go off to play and are forever changed. Youth and a sense of adventure are the only real bonds between these two characters who at their core, are very different people. Benjamin has the appearance of a child who has been well cared for by protective parents. Despite his boisterous and happy nature, Tyler has the look and essence of a child who is used to taking care of himself.
Venturing far away from home, the young boys challenge each other with a series of tasks which in the beginning, are rather harmless. For example, the stare-down. Who among us, back when we were children, hasn’t played the eternal game of staring at our friend’s face hoping that they would be the first to laugh, thus “losing” the game? As the boys wander about in their carefree way, the challenges escalate in terms of difficulty. However, Tyler and Benjamin are too filled with wonder at their surroundings and too into their game, to notice that they are leading themselves deeper and deeper into rather treacherous territory. And what a territory it is. Set in Quebec amidst the surroundings of an abandoned mine, a sense of foreboding contrasts powerfully with the sight and sound of two boys happily caught up in their game. A game that overpowers any caution they should have had. And when this game finally ends, it no longer matters who the winner is.
So much of the film rests on Félix Grenier whose intensity and kaleidoscope of emotions easily evoke a young River Phoenix. We see in his performance the joy of challenging his friend turn into a suffocating dread and then finally, an acceptance: The acceptance of what has happened and the acceptance that the boy who took off on an adventure with his friend, is not the same boy who is coming back.
FAUVE – Trailer from H264 DISTRIBUTION on Vimeo.
We had the chance to reach out to Fauve director Jérémy Comte and here is what he had to say about his film and what it was like to get his first Oscar nomination.
We’d love to know a little bit more about you. Where are you from and where did you study filmmaking?I grew up in eastern townships in Quebec, Canada, and studied at Concordia University in Montreal in Film Production.
What inspired you to make Fauve?Growing up in the countryside, the inspiration for Fauve, came from some childhood nightmare I had at that time. Those dreams kept visiting me throughout all my life at different moments, where I could recall the emotions and clear sceneries from them, but I didn’t mind them too much. About four years ago, I was running on a small muddy road under a light rain in the countryside and it all came back to me. I knew at this moment, I had to make a film out of these memories, exploring childhood in a raw and authentic way.
Where was the location for the film? Such a great locale in terms of the remoteness of it all. Was this the site of an actual mine?
Thank you. It’s actually a tailing site close to a surface mine. I went to Google map satellite and started searching around Montreal. Then, I scouted with my producers the ones that seemed interesting. At the end of the day, we stumbled into this magnificent location and I was jumping like a kid. It was so perfect for the main actions of the film so we knew right away it was this one.
How did you select the actors for your film? What happened during the audition process with Felix Grenier and Alexandre Perreault that made you realize that you had finally found your actors for Fauve?
At first I started to cast young actors in Montreal, but they were mostly too proper for what we were looking for. Growing up in the countryside, I wanted kids that are used to playing in the outdoors, with a ‘rough around the edges’ kind of energy. We reached out to many schools around the area where we were shooting and auditioned 50 boys. Felix and Alexandre had both a natural charisma and transparency that struck me. I knew it was them at that moment.
The sound of a fly buzzing is heard in the beginning of the movie as well as towards the end. Was that in any way a remembrance of “Lord of the Flies?”
Not really, actually. There was a fly that was always around Alexandre when he was in the quicksand, and it made me think of the symbol of death. I thought it was so meaningful to have it throughout the film, and in the beginning as a premonition.
There’s a scene in your movie where Tyler becomes overwhelmed when he finally sees the fox that Alexandre first saw. Was it because had Tyler believed Benjamin the first time, both of their fates would have been different? Perhaps they would have chased after the fox and that would have led them away from the mine?
What I like about this scene is that people always come with their own understanding of it, that’s what it’s meant to be!
What do you want audiences to understand about your movie?
They can take what resonates within themselves and I hope I can bring them back to their childhood, make them reflect about impulsivity, child psychology and the impact of nature on humans.
Congratulations on your Oscar nomination! Can you share with us what it was like when you first got the news that Fauvre was nominated? Were you at home? Were you surprised even though your film had already won awards at quite a few film festivals including Sundance?
Thank you so much! I was at my distributor’s office with my team and we jumped euphorically when we learned the news. It was such a beautiful moment. It’s so unpredictable to know if you’ll get there so I try to keep my expectations low. I was hoping so much, of course, and a big thanks to my publicist and whole team who have pushed the film so much.
Who are the film directors who have inspired you?
Paul Thomas Anderson, Herzog, Cohen brothers, Denis Villenueve, Alejandro Innaritu to name a few.
Do you have a favorite among the movies nominated for Best Picture?
It would be between Roma and The Favourite.
What is your next project?
I’m co-writing my first feature with a Ghanian writer, Will Niava, at the moment. We don’t have a draft yet, so I can’t reveal a clear synopsis. But I can say that it’s a coming of age story that parallel two boys, one from Ghana and the other from Quebec. It will have the same form and energy from Fauvre.
Follow LA ELEMENTS on Twitter and Instagram. Like us on Facebook.
No Comments