Cinema for me is…
France – Julie Lavigne from Europa Cinemas on Vimeo.
Julie in 23 Frames
1. Describe yourself in ten words.
I may be small, but I can achieve big things.
2. Your best quality? Your worst habit?
My best quality : good common sense
My worst habit : easily distracted
3. Your dream job?
I tend to change my mind about this every other day, but since people who introduced me to cinema when I was younger have had such an important impact on me, I definitely want to do something that would allow me to share my passion for cinema and pass it on to younger generations. If that makes sense.
4. What do you like most about your country?
I like how you only need to get a degree and learn how to feed yourself if you want to start a revolution.
5. Your favorite dish in your country?
Pain au chocolat, a traditional pastry with chocolate inside. Some people call it “chocolatine”. They’re wrong.
6. Which word or phrase in your native language do you like the most and what does it mean?
I honestly can’t decide, but I can guarantee that any word or sentence pronounced with a strong Parisian accent from the 50s will not disappoint you.
7. What European capital have you visited lately?
Rome, London, Prague and Vienna.
8. Other than your own, which European country would you love to live in?
I have always wanted to live in one of the Scandinavian countries for both their lifestyles and their landscapes.
9. What does Europe mean to you? 3 values.
Cultural diversity, sense of community, unrestricted travel.
10. What film made you fall in love with cinema?
There are 2 : Singin’ In The Rain (Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly, 1952, US) and The Wizard Of Oz (Victor Fleming, George Cukor, 1939, USA).
11. Your favorite film theatre? What do you like about it?
Cinéma ABC in Toulouse. I like their flawless programming, I like their casual atmosphere and I like that they always have nice exhibitions in the hall to look at while you wait for your screening. Oh, and my boyfriend works there as well, so I also like him.
12. Who is your movie hero?
The dog in Umberto D (Vittorio De Sica, 1952, IT).
13. Which movie director would you like to be?
Both Coen brothers. At the same time.
14. Briefly describe your favorite scene.
I don’t think I have a favourite scene, but I recently re-watched Leningrad Cowboys Go America ( Aki Kaurismäki, 1989, SE) and I had forgotten about the moment where the band stops at a gas station and dozens of cans of beer fall off the car as the musicians open the doors. The manager sends everyone to the restroom and we realize that he has been storing his beer in their frozen bass guitar player’s coffin on top of the car, which is just as absurd and hilarious as it sounds, and so is the entire film.
15. What are the 3 best European films you have seen in the last year?
On Body And Soul (Ildikó Enyedi, 2017, HU)
Foxtrot (Samuel Maoz, 2017, PL)
Loveless (Andrey Zvyagintsev, 2017, RU)
16. Which film character do you most identify with?
Ana in Baden Baden (Rachel Lang)
17. Your favorite soundtrack or song?
Whoever doesn’t answer the Shrek (Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson, 2001, US) soundtrack is lying.
18. If you had to live in a movie, which one would you like it to be?
Call Me By Your Name (Luca Guadagnino, 2017, IT) without any hesitation.
19. Your life becomes a bio-pic. Who plays the role of you?
Pick the girl with the most colorful outfit at the audition.
20. Which talent would you most like to have?
Being able to speak multiple languages.
21. What is your most treasured possession?
A box in which I keep all the tickets for almost every movie I’ve seen and every film festival I’ve been to for the past 10 years. Last time I counted there were over 200.
22. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Not listening to those who told me that going abroad for a year and studying cinema wouldn’t get me anywhere, because I successfully did both.
23. What is your motto?
Stay hydrated.