César Cadène – Before ocean (Photography)

Fiction / 21 min

Synopsis

For one night, Léon, a 15-year-old boy, runs away from home. He's going to join Olivia, a young adult who's going to the ocean to settle down. But the two bikers who are supposed to take them have had one of their motorcycles stolen. So Léon and Olivia wander the city, each with their desires and dreams in danger.

Student's comment

My ECAL graduation project involved making the photography of the film "Before the Ocean," written and directed by Ilan Dubi, a student director. Inspired by the cinema of the Safdie brothers and John Cassavetes, this film was a real technical and creative challenge. We worked with long focal lengths, shoulder movements, and natural light to capture the nocturnal wanderings of two young people stuck in Lausanne. The minimalist lighting, the uniqueness of each location, and the intimate point of view of the camera reinforced the authenticity of the narrative and aesthetic framework of the film. This project allowed me to refine my instinctive and sensitive approach to the camera and light work.

César Cadène