Chloé Robichaud's Delphine is playing on MUBI from April 16 - May 15, 2020 in the CANADA NOW series.
Delphine, a short film adapted from a short play, traces the evolution of a young Lebanese girl who rebels in her own way against the intimidation to which she was subjected in childhood. Very young, our Delphine has a difficulty adapting to the cultural codes and the language of her adopted country, Canada. She quickly becomes prone to mockery from other children in her school. Once in high school, Delphine learns to take advantage of her imposing stature and a newly won confidence, to impose herself physically and establish a superiority. The story is told from the point of view of the narrator, young Nicole. She is our indirect point view on the situation. Like us, she is a spectator of Delphine's transformation.
The film speaks with great vivacity of human relationships, but especially of politics among children. School is a microcosm, with its own hierarchy. But it is basically a reflection of a more global policy. Nathalie Doummar, the screenwriter, and I, wanted to tell how anger can take root in any society. No matter where we are in the world, on our school bus or in the midst of a diplomatic crisis, we all seek recognition, one victory at a time. Being told through a female point of view, it also gives an interesting perspective on how femininity and sexuality can be challenged, even repressed, in our childhood and teenage years.
Our childhood largely defines some paths and choices we take as we age. Many are reacting to the injuries they may have suffered as a child. In the case of immigrants’ children, the wounds are sometimes even deeper and go back to those of their parents or grandparents, torn from having to leave a country often in crisis. They must therefore bear the pain of the past, while seeking to adapt quickly to a new society which is not always welcoming. Learning different social codes, due to divergent culture and language barriers, makes adaptation all the more complex. The author and scriptwriter is herself from an Egyptian community and the film evokes some of her childhood memories.
I saw this film a kind of fable, told with humor and sincerity. My mise en scène uses a lot of wide shots, often composed with a taste for details. I saw those much like Polaroids from childhood memories. The characters’ environment is part of what they experience, whether at school or at home. This environment is therefore a character in itself, sometimes comforting for our protagonists, sometimes stuffy or intimidating. Architectural lines, textures, colors, were chosen accordingly. The tone of the film is like childhood: Spontaneous and colorful, but also sometimes harsh and uncompromising.