MA VIE DE COURGETTE
France, Switzerland
Synopsis
Director's Statement
In contemporary cinema, orphanages are classically depicted as places of abuse, and the outside world as that of freedom (THE 400 BLOWS, THE CHORUS). In MY LIFE AS A ZUCCHINI, the pattern has been reversed: abuse is suffered in the outside world and the orphanage is a place fostering appeasement and reconstruction. This is what makes this narrative at once classic and modern.
After some time immersed in a foster care centre, I realised the importance of treating the theme of adoption with great care, because it is at the heart of the relationship that these children, lacking in affection, maintain with the adult world. I presented adoption in two of its modern manifestations: the foster family and custody by a family member. Depending upon the child’s age and the motivation of the adults, adoption in this instance represents either the risk of returning to the destructive cycle of abuse or as the possibility of reconciling themselves with the world. It also seemed particularly important to enhance the image of the blended family in our society, where today the basic structure of the family is present in multiple forms.
Director's Biography
Claude Barras’ unique connection with childhood transcends time and age differences; he has the rare gift of being able to make you laugh and cry at the same time. His stories are filled with realism and fantasy, humour and poetry. He was the impetus for adapting Gilles Paris’ “Autobiography of a Courgette” into a stop-motion animation film.
Filmography:
2012 CHAMBRE 69, short
2010 COURGETTE, short
2008 AU PAYS DES TETES, short (co-directed with Cédric Louis)
2007 SAINTE BARBE, short (co-directed with Cédric Louis)
2006 THE GENIE IN A RAVIOLI CAN, short
2005 ICE FLOE, short (co-directed with Cédric Louis)
2002 STIGMATES, short
1999 CASTING QUEEN, short
1998 MÉLANIE, short
1997 FANTASMAGORIES, short
Cast & Crew
Directed by: Claude Barras
Written by: Céline Sciamma
Produced by: Max Karli
Cinematography: David Toutevoix
Editing: Valentin Rotelli
Production Design: Ludovic Chemarin
Costume Design: Christel Grandchamp
Original Score: Sophie Hunger
Sound Design: Denis Séchaud
Animation: Kim Keukeleire
Cast: Gaspard Schlatter (Courgette), Sixtine Murat (Camille), Paulin Jaccoud (Simon), Michel Vuillermoz (Raymond)
Nominations and Awards
- European Animated Feature Film 2016
- European Young Audience Award 2017