Summer is long gone, and in this film, so is he. Céline Robert and Maxime Martin from Jolistudio_ present Déjeuner sur mer (‘Lunch by the sea’, in English), a beautiful fashion film that will make you feel sad and hopeful, relaxed and angry. Taking place at Baie de Somme, in France, the filmmakers guide us through a dramatic chapter: a guy leaves a girl over a message on the voicemail, which makes her rage grow. But, just as the tide and the sound of the waves, her anger soothes. If you’ve ever had a broken heart, just watch this.
Hi Céline and Maxime, before cutting to the chase, could you please introduce yourselves individually as well as Jolistudio_?
Maxime: We met at Magazine Antidote in Paris eight years ago, where I was the Editor in Chief and Céline was the Artistic Director, both under the direction of Yann Weber. We immediately connected in a creative way (we used to say that we were artistic soul mates). After four years at Antidote, I left to follow my longing to start directing fashion films, but we managed to keep working together.
Céline: And after three more years, we finally decided to form this creative team. Jolistudio_ is one year old now and our work is guided by emotions. We like to spark a feeling (either nice or uncomfortable) to everyone we have the chance to connect with through our imagery.
Céline: And after three more years, we finally decided to form this creative team. Jolistudio_ is one year old now and our work is guided by emotions. We like to spark a feeling (either nice or uncomfortable) to everyone we have the chance to connect with through our imagery.
You’re presenting Déjeuner sur mer (‘Lunch by the sea’, in English), a fashion film that takes us to Baie de Somme, in the Atlantic coast of France. The title refers to the lunch the couple had planned and to which he never arrives. What symbolism does the food, or the ritual of meeting to eat something together, have?
Well, the lunch is an excuse to share something together. As we share a meal, we share a feeling. It’s the encounter of two souls and the beginning of a new story. It is not the food nor the ritual but the moment that counts.
Despite the vividness of the images, the story is sad: a guy leaves a message on the girl’s voicemail telling her he’s leaving her. Why did you feel like playing with very colourful, bright, even playful images for such an unhappy plot?
We like contrasted feelings, and our work always shows the beauty of opposed things when they’re put together. There are always two sides of the coin and in Déjeuner sur mer, we can find beauty in sorrow, strength in resentment or even stillness in rage.
Even though it’s sad, I don’t feel like sadness or even nostalgia are the main feelings the video conveys. To me, it gives a sense of tranquillity: the waves on the background, his sweet voice (speaking French is a plus), the quietness of the landscape, etc. Was your intention to make it like that from the beginning? Or did you start by doing something more dramatic and then changed?
It was the location that guided us towards that emotion. We loved La Baie de Somme at low tide because its quiet and peaceful side was imposing. Then, it was very easy to be truthful to what we saw and felt there. Everything made sense that way.
She first processes that the guy is not arriving for lunch (or any other time, as a matter of fact), but at the same time, she’s also hopeful for the future. Is this the main goal, in the end, of the video? To make us wish for a better future?
It was not intentional but if people see it like that we are thrilled because we do need a better future (smile). Anyhow, we didn’t want her to be defined by this break-up. She is as every woman should be seen nowadays: strong, independent and worthy.
Bustier and mules DROME, skirt TIBI, ear-cuff ATELIER PAULIN, earring PERSÉE JOALLERIE, Choker made by stylist FALKE.
Dress KOCHÉ, choker made by stylist FALKE.
Shirt and skirt CHRISTIAN WIJNANTS, earcuff ATELIER PAULIN, choker made by stylist FALKE.
