The actress, acclaimed and Oscar-winning, came to present in preview her first directorial work ‘En nous’ at the Cinéplanet in Alès, closing the Itinérances Festival. A film that delves into her dance learning journey and invites reflection on love.
Objectif Gard: You present ‘En nous’, a particular film that revisits an artistic adventure from almost 20 years ago, when you learned to dance from scratch. What does this film mean to you, which will be released in theaters on June 3?
Juliette Binoche: Well, if a film is not special, it’s in trouble (laughs). What’s important is what it conveys to those who watch it. My idea was to invite the viewer to be in our situation. I didn’t want to have an explanatory voiceover, as I found it interesting to invite the viewers to ask questions, like us, to put themselves in the creator’s shoes. They see that sometimes we’re ridiculous, sometimes we can’t do it, sometimes we’re out of breath, sometimes we have doubts. We don’t always agree, but we burst out laughing. We experience inner back-and-forths, a confrontation of different worlds. Akram Khan, my dance partner, is Muslim, born in London to a family from Bangladesh. He worked on dance, an art form that starts from the outside, while cinema starts from the inside. The clash of our differences led us to create something new and jump into the unknown, both of us becoming beginners. It was particularly challenging because we had already planned 120 performances worldwide from the start, which we had to sustain for a year and a half. And embarking on this unknown adventure, without knowing each other, without a set theme for the show, and as beginners, multiplied the difficulties. This film invites the viewer to be in the rehearsal room with us. Finally, we arrive at the show, where we are in a different world, opposed to the rehearsals, experiencing a true artistic form after hard work and dedication. But also the discovery and transformation of the body for me, and the emotional opening for Akram.
The film indeed invites personal identification, reflection on love and creation. Is this why the film is called ‘En nous’, because it resonates with everyone?
Indeed, but also because the show we created was called ‘In-I’ (‘In me’ in English). Many early viewers are energized after watching the film. They feel a surge and think, ‘I could do that too’. They immediately want to go home and start. But I don’t hold their hand, the film demands a bit of effort from the viewer. On the flip side, there are those who are used to everything being straightforward, everything being explained… (Continued in the external article link…)
[Context: Juliette Binoche discusses her film ‘En nous’ and the themes of love, creation, and personal transformation woven into the narrative.]
[Fact Check: The film ‘En nous’ will be released in theaters on June 3, 2026.]
