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MORASSEIX
Special Event
year 1992-2004 length 91' colour 35mm Country France
directed by Damien Odoul
First Feature Film
Cast Damien Odoul (César), Audey Bellessort (Lili), Valérie Allain (the proctor), Pascal Pagnat (Douze), Jean Fuentes (Juan), Dora Doll (the mother)
Screenplay Damien Odoul, Antoine Lacomblez
Cinematography Pierre David
Editing Marie-France Poulizac
Art Direction Alain Frentzel
Sound Pascal Armand
Producer Damien Odoul
Production D.O. Films
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synopsis
Morasseix is a small town far out in the country in which live a group of surprising individuals: characters who are at times violent, at times absurd, and at others innocently disarming. “All of them are a bit eccentric” says Lili (Audrey Bellessort) the local hairdresser’s daughter who dreams of someday leaving Morasseix and going to America.
César (Damien Odoul), on the other hand, has no intention of ever leaving the village. He has an appetite for life, and prefers to spend his time with the simple.
He thinks that these people are all like his friend Douze (Pascal Pagnat), so named because of the caliber of his hunting rifle: slightly crazy but neither conceited nor arrogant.
César wastes his time away idly drinking at the bar, going on hunting trips where he can open up and talk with unhidden modesty, playing rugby and improvising bullfights at sunrise with a small herd of cows. He tries to hide himself in these daily amusements but he lacks the simplicity of Douze, and the purity of Lili and little by little the desperation, dissatisfaction and uneasiness begin to grow within him…
There have been Les Barbots (1995), Le Souffle (Deep Breath, 2001), Errance (2003), Après le deluge (2004) so it feels very strange to discover Damien Odoul’s first feature film only now, eleven years later. So this is the original sparkle in the actor-director’s career, aged only 25 at the time. But what exactly is Morasseix? A tragedy or a burlesque comedy? Difficult to say when the drama takes a Buster Keaton turn every two minutes. Of course, Odoul’s humour verges on the absurd. His originality lies in his sincere eccentricity. Odoul strangely reminds the viewer of a young Jean-Pierre Mocky. One guess is that Morasseix is about people who feel as desperate as they are hungry for life. An awesome combination.
Agnès Catherine Poirier
director's statement
Morasseix is a glance into a world which is on the verge of disappearing. People like those in the film practically don’t exist anymore in the country. The new generation is much more polished. In fact one longer says "farmer" but rather "agriculturalist".
This first film of mine should be seen through the eyes of a child; it has a sort of coarseness to it which I find touching. I was only 25 years old when I filmed it and when it was finished I was completely discomposed and shattered. I interpreted César, the main character, and this was very complicated because I had to be both behind and in front of the camera. It took 10 years before I was able to watch it again...
Damien Odoul
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