Quentin Tarantino briefly emerged from retirement to star in the indie film Only What We Carry, which was filmed in Deauville, France, at the end of September. The project, featuring Simon Pegg, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Liam Hellmann, and newcomer Lizzy McAlpine, took place over six days with a modest budget and relied heavily on improvisation for its performances. This marked a rare return for Tarantino, motivated by a Zoom call with director Jamie Adams.
Film’s Setting and Ensemble Cast Exploring Past Shadows
The movie unfolds along the rugged coast of Normandy and centers around a cast of characters confronting their histories. Simon Pegg plays Julian Johns, a former influential instructor whose past student, Charlotte Levant (Boutella), returns home grappling with unresolved memories. Tarantino portrays John Percy, an old acquaintance of Julian whose unexpected presence uncovers hidden truths. Joined by Charlotte Gainsbourg as Josephine Chabrol, Charlotte’s protective sister, Liam Hellmann as Vincent—an artist caught between conflicting emotions—and Lizzy McAlpine making her screen debut as Jacqueline, a young dancer whose arrival influences everyone to face the burdens they carry behind them.
Creative Process and Artistic Inspirations Behind the Film
Simon Pegg described the experience as creatively rejuvenating, comparing it to returning to school and praising the opportunity to collaborate with an exceptional group. He highlighted the film’s style as being in the spirit of directors Eric Rohmer and Mike Leigh, with an emphasis on naturalistic and improvised performances. Jamie Adams, the director, echoed this sentiment, sharing that the film fulfilled his longtime ambition to create a Rohmer-inspired piece set in Normandy. He credited the freedoms of independent filmmaking for making this dream a reality and expressed gratitude toward the international ensemble cast and crew.
“Creatively speaking, working on ‘Only What We Carry’ was like going back to school. It was an incredibly fulfilling and enjoyable experience in the tradition of Eric Rohmer and Mike Leigh, with a group of truly amazing people,”
said Simon Pegg.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to shoot an Eric Rohmer-styled picture in Normandy, a dream that included collaborating with an exceptional international ensemble cast and crew. It turns out by embracing the freedoms of independent cinema that dream has come true, I’m forever grateful to the cast and crew of ‘Only What We Carry’ for this moment,”
Jamie Adams stated.
Production Details and Professional Representation
The film was produced by Charles Benoin, Liam Hellmann, and Jouri Smit through Atlas Pictures and Easy of the Eye. The cast and crew were backed by an array of industry representatives, including Dawn Sedgwick Management for Simon Pegg, CAA and Untitled & 42 for both Boutella and Charlotte Gainsbourg, WME and Carlos Goodman for Quentin Tarantino, Florence Chamasson for Liam Hellmann, Molly Clark for Lizzy McAlpine, and Cynthia Okoye at Curtis Brown alongside Mark Hartogsohn at Gersh Agency for Jamie Adams.
Significance and Expectations for Quentin Tarantino’s Role
Quentin Tarantino’s involvement in Only What We Carry marks a notable moment in his post-retirement career, offering audiences a fresh glimpse of his acting outside of his usual directorial work. The film’s intimate, improvisational style and strong international ensemble hint at a project that values emotional depth and subtle storytelling. Its production in Normandy, combined with inspirations drawn from renowned filmmakers like Rohmer and Hong Sang Soo, underscores a commitment to artful cinema. As Only What We Carry moves forward, industry watchers anticipate how this experimental effort will resonate with audiences and critics, potentially influencing indie filmmaking with Tarantino’s rare on-screen return.
