Beyond the front line, intensive filming for a poignant theme

It was at the Domaine de Challes in Saint-Didier sur Chalaronnes that the multidisciplinary team of students in their final year at CinéCréatis set about making their FFDE: Au-delà du front.

A film combining artistic sensibility and historical journey

The film’s synopsis promises a captivating plot: a German deserter fleeing the war finds refuge with Yvette and her father. However, their safety is compromised when German soldiers arrive in search of them. Léonard, torn between his loyalty to his family and his convictions, is faced with difficult choices that will change their destiny forever.

In the midst of the terrible turmoil of the First World War, an isolated château becomes the scene of a heartbreaking scene between Léonard, his daughter Yvette and a wounded German soldier who has chosen to desert the fighting by going deep into the French countryside. Fate forces Yvette and Léonard to become unwilling accomplices in the soldier’s desertion.

Such is the ambitious and moving promise made by Wiliam Gras, director of Au-délà du Front.

Our students have risen to a number of artistic and technical challenges

The art direction for the film “Beyond the Front” stands out for its bold exploration of tones and elements inspired by the solar eclipse. Our students meticulously created a warm and captivating visual palette, blending shades of orange and red to evoke the unique atmosphere of the eclipse. This artistic decision creates a haunting atmosphere that envelops each scene, adding a symbolic dimension to the story and reinforcing the emotional intensity of the characters as they face the challenges of war and destiny.

Consequently, the treatment of light was one of the major challenges of the shoot. As the film takes place during an eclipse, our students had to create an atmosphere that allowed only orange light to seep into the vast rooms of the castle, serving as their sets.

Another challenge was decoration. To translate the director’s intentions into images, the Château du Domaine de Challes had to be redecorated in the style of the 19th century, as Yvette and Léonard were middle-class people impoverished by the war. Our students struggled to complete this project in record time, as the château was only available for the duration of the shoot, so it was impossible to anticipate the décor.

Last but not least, the cast was not to be outdone, with sequences requiring stunts, including a perilous scene involving an axe. Precision was paramount, as certain takes could not be redone due to technical constraints linked to special effects and make-up.

For all these reasons, and for the adaptability shown by our students, congratulations! We look forward to seeing your film.

Photos taken by Lucas Lauby.