The Ambassador & Me

Director's Statement

Jan Czarlewski was born in Paris in 1988 to Polish parents and grew up imbued with both cultures. He graduated in film and television from the Sorbonne Nouvelle in 2009. In 2012, he graduated from the university of art and design Lausanne where he studied in the film department. In 2011, he directed L’AMBASSADEUR ET MOI which was shown at numerous international film festivals and was awarded several times. In 2012, he directed his diploma fiction short, L’AMOUR BÈGUE, which was awarded at the Locarno IFF 2012. How long did it take to make your short? Was it difficult to get financing? I made this film during one semester in a workshop project at school. The preparation took me one month, then ten days of shooting, then one and a half months of editing. The film was made with no money as it was not a diploma project. You don't need a lot of money for this kind of project: just two flight tickets and a camera. Which thoughts come to mind concerning a “European cinema community”? Diversity. Each country has its own specific cinema. Generally speaking, I have the feeling that there are two major cinema families: the Nordic/East European cinema which is maybe more "precise", "efficient" and "colder" than the Latin cinema which is more "intellectual" and "crazy" at the same time. Still, it's great that we try to build a true European film identity that regroups our diversities. If you owned a theatre for one night, which films would you screen? A comedy: Something fresh, optimistic and modern (I always think about the Polish short FROZEN STORIES) – to make European cinema look to the future with a positive feeling. I would probably also screen INTOUCHABLES which makes me feel less depressed about life. Finally I would screen the documentary by Peter Brown, CONFESSIONS OF AN ECO-TERRORIST, which is an example of engaged and funny cinema. What is your next project? I already finished it: L’AMOUR BÈGUE, a short fiction film about 23 year-old Tim. He’s intelligent, rather good looking, but he stammers. Seducing a girl is an ordeal. Encouraged by his friend, he will try and reach for the brass ring – Victoria, a pretty girl he met boxing. However, he has trouble stringing two words together…