Interview mit Cate Shortland

Das Interview wurde geführt von: Daniel Fürg und Sven März

Regisseurin Cate Shortland über sich und ihren Film "Somersault"

You are a filmmaker, a director and you are promoting your film in Europe now. How does it feel like?

I suppose in a way it's one of the best parts of making a film. To go to other cultures and, you know, when you make a film you go to Japan, to New York, to London and now I'm here. And you meet people from all different cultures. And all those people see your film.

And what are you expecting for Europe now? Is this your first time in Europe?

I've been to Germany for about five times. Because my shortfilms have been at the festivals in Oberhausen and Berlin. So I've got a little tiny understanding of Germany. But I'm hoping, that the film reaches an audience here.

What do you think, I mean it's an Australian film and it's definitely not like an American blockbuster. So do you think, is the European audience more open for it?

You know, I can never predict what you guys are gonna make with the film. I get surprised all the time by the audience, by audience members coming up to me. May be it's a Japanese man and he's 60 or a French girl who is 16. You know what I mean? You can never predict it.

So tell me, what is "Somersault" about?

I think it's about a young girl discovering her inner emotional world. Trying to work out what the different is between love and sex. Just trying things. Trying everything almost for the first time.

Where or how did you get inspired for the topic?

From people in my own life and also just the whole idea of this young creature in a big and dark almost gothic world.

Heidi and Jo they have both problems with coming of age. And at the bottom line they are both looking for love and acceptance. Do you think that teenage boys and girls have the same problems?

I'm not a teenage boy, which is quite obvious. I don't know what it's like in Germany but in Australia we've got a really high suicide rate among young men. That's a big problem because we don't know why. Is it because they are lonely or can't they communicate or is it because they are gay and can't tell their parents? So I think it's still very difficult for young men to communicate and to express their feelings. Do you think you can show your feelings as much as girls can? Or are men still meant to be tough?

It's better than in the past. But there is still a big difference between boys and girls.

That's funny. Girls have reached much more than boys in the last few years in what they can do. Liberation and so on. Sometimes I think young men are in a sort of no man's land. That's difficult.

So do you think that young girls are more confused about their sexual desires?

All these questions are like I'm a specialist in those things. All I did in my film was take specific characters and explore what is going on in their heads. So I'm not a specialist or I can't generalize about young men or women. I just thought like it was rather typical like girls being confused with sex and the guy's just having sex and isn't interested in a relationship. When I was a young girl you had an addiction to love and all the magazines and all the movies support this idea. And Heidi is a part of that idea.

Do you think that's a normal process that you've got to go through?

When I was growing up me and my friends had been quite extreme. Everything was about pushing down trees and taking things further. I'm really happy I grew up like that. But a lot of my friends are dead now. Beause we were so extrem. And I'm sad that they didn't get through that and then reached a peaceful place like I have in a way. But I feel really sorry about today's young people, wearing Tommy Hilfiger clothes and so on. I think that's a whole generation in pastel polo shirts. What we had was about being different and being excited about changes. And that's a kind of nearer conservatives coming in. And that worries me.

When you were 16 was it clear to you to become a filmmaker? At Heidi's age.

At Heidi's age I probably wanted a really nice boyfriend and I used to draw houses all the time, I used to draw architectural plans of beautiful houses. I had this dream to live at a different place. I had a huge fantasy.

Why is Heidi's family divorced? Is there a reason or something in your own family?

No, my parents are still together. But Heidi's dad left when Heidi was four years old. She never had a male presence for a long time in her life. There has been a series of different dads in her life.

Have you been inspired by any filmmakers for this movie?

I think not so much in a particular sense for this film. But I'm really inspired by filmmakers like Terence Malik, Wong Kar- Wai or Scorsese, Sophia Coppola... I could give you a very long list. I've always been inspired by filmmakers.

Is it harder for female filmmakers?

No, it is easier. Because in Australia we've got a very long tradition of female filmmakers. And I think just at the moment your difference is an advantage. Which is incredibly lucky for me.

Thank you for the Interview!