I Don’t Care About the Obvious story. Michel Franco Talks About Ais and Others’ Films

Last year, Michel Franco came to KVIFF with his film Memory and as a mentor for the Future Frames programme. He enjoyed the festival so much that he returned this year with Dreams, which premiered in competition at the Berlinale. The film was also the focus of Franco’s KVIFF Talk, hosted by Pavel Sladký, where the audience actively participated in the discussion. Much of the conversation centred around the ending of Dreams, the director’s new erotic drama about the destructive dynamics of an American-Mexican couple, a relationship that also mirrors the tensions between their two countries. “It’s harder to make films that challenge audiences today than it was, say, ten years ago. So it’s a great compliment to me that the film is still in your heads after a few days,” Franco remarked.

The warm debate also touched on the entire creative process of the prolific Mexican filmmaker, from writing the script (“Every time I write a script, I know how it’s going to end. But I leave room for the characters to show me what happens in the meantime.”), financing (“My pitch is usually: I swear I know what I’m doing, I just can’t explain it to you.”) and working with actors (“We don’t rehearse, but I spend a lot of time with them and we talk a lot about everything.”) to post-production (“Editing is the most frustrating, but also the best part of the process.”)

The fast-working director, who has made nine titles in 14 years, also shared the kind of filmmakers who inspire him. “I like directors who have made a lot of films. Your first three are personal, but by the time you reach your tenth, you need to be inventive – and that’s what interests me,” said Franco. “What I don’t enjoy are films that tell you who’s good and who’s bad within the first hour. A character can be both. I don’t care about the obvious story. In my films, you can’t immediately guess what’s going to happen. That wouldn’t be stimulating. But surprising the audience cannot be done without betraying the characters,” says the Mexico City native.

The Cannes- and Venice-awarded director also shared his love for other forms of art. “When writers ask me how to improve, I tell them to read. I love Philip Roth, for example. Just as Dostoyevsky understands human nature, Roth has a way with words. I also love music, even though I still listen to the same records I bought when I was twelve. I respect music so much that I hardly use it in my films.”

Franco is staying at KVIFF for the full festival, though he limits himself to only one film a day. “I can’t do four films a day like Sergei Loznitsa. I’m writing a new script, meeting friends here, and promoting Dreams. In fact, when I like the film I’ve seen, it’s like I’ve eaten well and I’m not hungry for the rest of the day,” the director reflected.