Daniel fait face

Daniel
‘Sometimes the scariest part is seeing other people who are scared.’

A school in France. The class is rehearsing a theatre performance: There are words and geometric shapes on the blackboard; Marthe recites a poem, notes are passed around the room, and Daniel’s nose starts to bleed. Everyday events that appear as if in a dream, vague and unreal. Invisible lines dictate the way. Daniel, who is 10, suddenly finds himself alone with Marthe, who is standing in her underwear and doesn’t notice him at first. The encounter is tender but disorienting, and takes place in a kind of vacuum. Meanwhile, something sinister is approaching from outside – something without a name and which the adults always warn them about. It wants to get through the windows and doors to the children.
by Marine Atlan
with Théo Polgár, Madeleine Follacci, Tristan Bernard, Aurélien Gabrielli, Emmanuelle Cuau
France 2018 French 60’ Colour recommendation: 10 years and up

With

  • Théo Polgár (Daniel)
  • Madeleine Follacci (Marthe)
  • Tristan Bernard (Colin)
  • Aurélien Gabrielli (Aurélien)
  • Emmanuelle Cuau (Teacher)

Crew

Director Marine Atlan
Screenplay Marine Atlan in collaboration with Anne Brouillet
Cinematography Benoît Bouthors, Marine Atlan
Editing Guillaume Lillo
Music Jonas Atlan
Sound Elisha Albert, Paul Guilloteau
Sound Mixing Clément Laforce
Sound Editing Agathe Poche
Set Design Louise Le Bouc Berger, Elsa Noyons
Costumes Francisco Terra
Assistant Director Julia Canarelli
Casting Jennifer Lumbroso
Colourist Gadiel Bendelac
Production Manager Lucie Bouilleret
Producer Nicolas Anthomé

Marine Atlan

A cinematographer and director who studied at La Fémis in Paris and has been DOP on films by Louise Hémon, Benoît Bouthors, Caroline Poggi and Jonathan Vinel. Her directorial debut, Les amours vertes, won the Grand Prix at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival.

Filmography

2015 Les amours vertes; short film 2018 Daniel fait face

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2019