Renowned actress Juliette Binoche has ventured into directing with her first feature documentary, In-I In Motion, which premiered recently at The San Sebastian Film Festival. The film chronicles the behind-the-scenes journey of the 2008 dance theatre production In-I, co-created by Binoche alongside UK choreographer Akram Khan, with inspiration from Robert Redford playing a pivotal role in encouraging her to create the documentary.
Robert Redford’s Influence on Binoche’s Directorial Path
The documentary showcases the intense creation and performance process of In-I. Binoche recounted how, after a performance at the BAM Theater in New York City, the late Hollywood icon Robert Redford visited her dressing room with passionate encouragement. She recalled,
“After we performed at the BAM Theater in New York City, Redford came to my dressing room and said, ‘You have to make a film out of this piece’. He was so intense and passionate about it that I said, ‘Yes, I was thinking about it.’ It stayed in my mind.”
This moment served as a catalyst for Binoche to pursue directing.
The Challenges Faced During the Making of In-I In Motion
Turning 170 hours of raw footage into a cohesive narrative proved to be a demanding and emotional process for Binoche. She described her experience as fluctuating between hope and despair:
“Sometimes I was very happy with something, and at other moments I was desperate because I just felt, ‘This is going nowhere.’ I was a little bit in panic. The first cut was nine hours. I had to cut down and made pictures of each scene, because it helped me because I could visualize the film. Before, it felt abstract and the visualization of the scenes really was key to me.”
This detailed approach helped her steer the film toward completion.
Goals for the Documentary and Collaborative Production Efforts
Binoche expressed hope that In-I In Motion would inspire audiences to embrace their own creativity and explore uncharted territories within themselves. She noted,
“Maybe this film will lead people to be creative in their lives and believe in a part of themselves they didn’t believe in before.”
Along with directing, she produced the film with Sébastien de Fonseca at Miao Productions, while Ola Strøm of Yggdrasil and Solene Leger from Leger Productions served as co-producers. The documentary offers a deep dive into the genesis of the dance show and the struggles its creators faced during development.
By bridging her acting career with filmmaking, Juliette Binoche’s Robert Redford directorial debut captures the vulnerability and passion behind artistic collaboration, marking a significant expansion of her creative portfolio. The documentary’s premiere at The San Sebastian Film Festival signals a promising start to her journey as a filmmaker, with potential to inspire both artists and audiences alike.
