Mes provinciales

A Paris Education
Filled with expectations, Etienne moves to Paris from Lyon to study film directing at the Sorbonne. He leaves behind his girlfriend Lucie, promising to call her regularly via Skype. On his course he meets Jean-Noël and Mathias, they too have come to the metropolis from smaller cities and share his passion for cinema. Together they discuss the cinematic canon, read texts by Flaubert and Pasolini, and listen to Bach and Mahler. Jean-Noël proves to be an agreeable friend who tries to strengthen Etienne’s fragile self-confidence; Mathias, on the other hand, often comes across as stern, aloof and mysterious. Fond of arguing, he has a habit of disappearing for weeks on end without the others knowing where he is. Nobody gets to see his student film, either. Etienne is particularly crestfallen when he discovers by chance that Mathias shares a secret with Annabelle, an idealistic young woman who lives in Etienne’s shared flat and with whom he is secretly in love.
Jean Paul Civeyrac’s tenderly melancholic black-and-white study of these young people’s encounter with art and life is at the same time a declaration of love for classic cinema and the city of Paris.
by Jean Paul Civeyrac
with Andranic Manet, Corentin Fila, Gonzague Van Bervesselès, Diane Rouxel, Jenna Thiam, Sophie Verbeeck, Valentine Catzeflis, Charlotte Van Bervesselès, Nicolas Bouchaud, Laurent Delbecque
France 2018 French 136’ Black/White World premiere

With

  • Andranic Manet (Etienne)
  • Corentin Fila (Mathias)
  • Gonzague Van Bervesselès (Jean-Noël)
  • Diane Rouxel (Lucie)
  • Jenna Thiam (Valentina)
  • Sophie Verbeeck (Annabelle)
  • Valentine Catzeflis (Barbara)
  • Charlotte Van Bervesselès (Héloise)
  • Nicolas Bouchaud (Paul Rossi)
  • Laurent Delbecque (William)

Crew

Director Jean Paul Civeyrac
Written and Directed by Jean Paul Civeyrac
Assistant Director Tigrane Avédikian
Cinematography Pierre-Hubert Martin
Sound François Méreu
Editing Louise Narboni
Production Design Brigitte Brassart
Costumes Claire Dubien
Casting Constance Demontoy
Production Manager Flore Camus
Producer Frédéric Niedermayer
Co-Producers Michèle Pétin, Laurent Pétin
Co-Production ARP Sélection Paris

Produced by

Moby Dick Films

Jean Paul Civeyrac

Born in Firminy, France in 1964, he studied philosophy at the University of Lyon III and then directing at La Fémis film school. From 1999 to 2010 he co-led the school’s department of film direction together with Claire Simon. He has been teaching film at the University of Paris VIII since 2011. He is recognised as one of the most important proponents of the French Nouvelle Vague.

Filmography

1991 La Vie selon Luc; short film 1997 Neither Eve nor Adam 2000 Les Solitaires 2001 Fantômes 2002 Man's Gentle Love 2003 All the Fine Promises 2004 Tristesse Beau Visage; short film 2005 Through the Forest 2006 Ma Belle Rebelle; short film · Mon Prince Charmant; short film 2008 Malika s' est Envolée; short film 2010 Young Girls in Black 2011 Louise le Dimanche; short film · Une Heure avec Alice; short film 2012 Fairy Queen; short film · Françoise au Printemps; short film 2014 My Friend Victoria 2018 Mes provinciales (A Paris education); Panorama

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2018