Mise en Scene: François Ozon

Dynamic director François Ozon discusses his filmography that includes films as diverse as 5 X 2 (an intense and thoughtful account of a break-up, told in reverse), Swimming Pool (a story about a reserved English writer and a young liberal girl), 8 Women (a musical), as well as Potiche, his new feature starring two giants of French cinema: Gérard Depardieu and Catherine Deneuve.

Solomons draws out Ozon’s interest in the feminine form and his continuing fascination with his female leads. From Charlotte Rampling to Emmanuell Béart and Catherine Deneuve, Ozon talks of his working relationship with his actresses and how they collaborate, inspiring moments of inspiration on set.

Looking back across his highly productive career, this exclusive interview provides a brilliant insight into the working process of François Ozon, whose films are so different and varied in tone that it’s hard to know where he is going to go next.