“Ahoj everyone,” greeted actress Vicky Krieps, the recent recipient of the KVIFF President’s Award, as she addressed the packed Grand Hall. On Saturday, she presented her new film Love Me Tender, which premiered earlier this year in the Un certain regard section at Cannes. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Constance Debré, recently translated into Czech.
“It’s a modern fairy tale – about a woman trying to break free from the shackles society has imposed on her, particularly through her thoughts around what she should be like as a mother or as a woman. Society tells us that we should climb the ladder and get rich, but not everyone wants that. This woman allowed herself to step outside that narrative – and she has to pay the price,” the actress described the story of a lawyer who loses custody of her son because of her sexual orientation.
“It was difficult to get funding for this film, no one wanted a protagonist who wasn’t likeable. Director Anna Cazenave Cambet would always respond that the main character in Taxi Driver isn’t likeable either. But he’s a man, so no one minds. When a woman makes mistakes or acts like a man, we judge her,” Krieps pointed out. “I’m proud the film was eventually made. Together with the director and actress Monia Chokri, we worked hard to make it as truthful as possible,” she added. Krieps closed by reassuring the audience that although the film’s ending may feel harsh, she sees hope in it.
