Download pdf - Flanders Image

impression that the people were more authentic than today, that human
relationships were stronger. they weren’t virtual or dematerialised like
they are now.
in that case, isn’t it strange to reconstitute that period using
contemporary technological methods?
the only thing that i used to give a 1970s feel is the zoom - which is no
longer used very much in fiction - above all to reinforce certain emotions
by bringing me closer to the faces of the actors. the rest has nothing to
do with way films were put together back then. this was for no precise
reason, other than that the setting of Old Belgium is not my natural
environment. i grew up in an upper class environment, my father was a
producer, my mother a school teacher. i didn’t know the world inhabited
by these characters.
in contrast you have included your passion for music in Old
Belgium, which operates on several levels, between the songs
the characters sing and the original soundtrack…
the songs have a music hall feel, while for the original soundtrack i wanted
something more contemporary, which would make a contrast. but i was
anxious for this music to be played on instruments from the same setting as
the series, in fashion at the end of the 1960s and beginning of the 1970s.
a little bit French touch. one of my favourite soundtrack composers is
François de roubaix: rather than the highly orchestrated passages of a
Michel legrand, his work has a minimalist side, contemporary, yet still with
feeling. i appreciate that French side, that slightly bitter-sweet irony.
that taste is still a bit unexpected in the original soundtrack of
Old Belgium which, from its scenario as much as its title, has a
distinctly Belgian identity…
true, but i think that the emotions in this series are universal. the strangest
thing is that the majority of the actors are more accustomed to speaking
French. For practical reasons we preferred to shoot in Flemish, but in
reality this cabaret was a very French place. the theatre was linked to
the olympia. generally the performers who could not play in this parisian
theatre brought their acts to old belgium. i was anxious not to make things
too belgian in form, to go towards something more intimate, everyday, a
little more in the tone of a tati. that includes the characters: jack is very
louis de Funès, i think. besides, from the outset it was clearly written in
a slapstick style.
do you have purely cinema projects in mind?
yes. two films have been proposed to me, but also another tv series…
(laughs). one of the two films came through an indian agent who wants
to represent me down there…
…in india???
…i know, i know, it’s bizarre. but it follows a logical series of events. My
professional career is peppered with unexpected meetings like this one.
to a certain extent, the photography and notably the colours in
Old Belgium are not too far from Bollywood musicals…
…i adore musicals. i would love to make one, because i’m convinced
that at this time we need feel-good movies. on top of that, this desire
is connected to my real memory of the 1970s. when i was little i didn’t
often go to the cinema, but i was permanently glued to the tv. in particular
i watched dozens and dozens of children’s films on tv, german and
danish productions, most of them musicals. all of that must have stayed
in a corner of my subconscious...
Indra Siera (°1972)
Old Belgium (2010, TV series)
Fans (2008, TV series)
K3 and the Ice Princess (2006)
K3 and the Magic Medaillon (2004)
25
in FOcUs