Samantha Casella is an Award Winning Filmmaker. Her latest film Katabasis won many film festival awards all around the world. The King Review Film Festival proudly presenting the interview of Multi Talented Samantha Casella.
1)What is the inspiration behind the film “Katabasis” ?
I wanted to immerse myself in the theme of abuse. The film was born from the existential nightmare of the protagonist: a woman who suffered abuse as a child that she doesn't remember exactly but that marked her, making her a slave to her past, constantly looking for murky situations, who sticks to her own sadistic code, who seeks an "abusive" relationship to then free herself and strike at the heart of the person who idealized her. At the same time, I wanted to explore another type of abuse: the kind that the system imposes on successful people. I did it with the male protagonist: a star in search of a partner/mother willing to become his property hidden from everyone's eyes, so that she is the only real thing in a fake environment.
2) What part of the film are you most proud of?
I think I created atmospheres that were functional to the story. And I think the search for the cast was very targeted. I write thinking of a specific face. I think Katabasis has the right faces.
3) As an Indian Film Festival We would like to ask you , Have you ever seen any Bollywood Film ? Which is your Favourite Film ?
I like to discover the cinematographic realities of all cultures! So of course, I have seen many Bollywood films! I have seen the Apu Trilogy. In India it was explained to me that the director, Satyajit Ray, was inspired by Italian neorealism and I found them very interesting films, very poetic. I think Ray is a true master and even more than the Trilogy I appreciated "The Goddess". "The Hidden Star" is also very beautiful, while among the more recent films "The Emperor's Bride", "2018" and especially "3 Idiots" and "Karnan" are fantastic. I forgot, I found "777 Charlie" sweet and "Thursday" wonderful, Yami Gautam is a beautiful woman. I love India very much, I hope to work in your country one day.
IMG 1 : POSTER OF THE FILM KATABASIS
4)How did it feel working on something with such social and emotional significance?
Honestly, Katabasis devastated me a bit. My films always deal with very personal themes. Especially the role of the protagonist was very tough, but I think it was worth it.
5) Did you come up against any obstacles during the production of your film "Katabasis" ?
Undoubtedly, moving in independent cinema involves difficulties. In any case, the production provided me with the locations I wanted and the actors I wanted. When post-production began, I asked to work on the audio with Dino Gervasoni and in this case too I was satisfied. I was lucky.
6) What is your creative background, and how/when did you get involved in filmmaking?
I can't say which art form first captured me... Maybe painting and sculpture and then literature... I love so many artists while in literature, my first love was Dostoevsky, then I started to appreciate American literature, Faulkner, Steinbeck and Philip Roth above all... Cinema entered my life thanks to Ingmar Bergman when as a child, I saw "Winter Light". Ingmar Bergman and David Lynch were my first cinematic idols. Then Kiweswski, Tarkovskij and Kubrick arrived... Currently I love Terrence Malick.
IMG 2 : SAMANTHA CASELLA
7) How have people reacted to the film and what response have you found the most memorable?
Katabasis has had a very strong impact on people. I receive emails or private messages on social media every day in which many people say they were disturbed by the film. It stays on the skin. At least 10 people told me the exact same sentence: “if there were more people like Nora there would be fewer femicides”. It really impressed me.
8) What can we expect from you next?
I've started working on the third chapter of my "subconscious trilogy", which began with "Santa Guerra" and continued with "Katabasis". After that I honestly don't know. Maybe a film in the United States, maybe. I hope to work in India, one day.
9) How do film festivals help filmmakers?
They help by giving visibility and allowing comparison with other cultures, with other realities. Westerners must not fossilize only in their own genre. It is a typically Western defect to believe that the only interesting realities are ours.
10) What piece of advice do you like to share with upcoming filmmakers?
I am not in a position to give advice. If they want to be free directors, without masters, the only advice to give is to make sincere films. And don't fall into the Western trap of the concept of failure. There is no failure, there are only life experiences.
Comments