Locarno Festival –
The Neuchâtelois Fabrice Aragno Subjugue with “Le Lac”
The first film of the former assistant of Godard brings together Clotilde Courau and Bernard Stamm.
The filmmaker Fabrice Aragno posed in front of Lake Geneva, July 29, 2025 in Lutry, before the presentation of his film “Le Lac” at the Locarno Film Festival.
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- The former assistant of Godard presents his first feature film at the Locarno festival.
- Clotilde Courau and Bernard Stamm embody the main characters of this poetic work.
- The film explores the aesthetics between water, light and faces.
- The financing of the project required several attempts to the Federal Culture Office.
Water, sky, light, a woman, a man, reflections and calm. Refined, reduced to a few elements, “the lake” is a poet film. A kind of gentle and pictorial elegy that combines plasticity and quest with elegance, of an almost experimental nature. With this first feature film, the Neuchâtelois Fabrice Aragno throws himself into the big bath. Former assistant of Godardwith which he had notably co -founded the production company Casa Azul, he knows that he is expected, but savor the moment.
Flanked Clotilde Courau and browser Bernard Stammhe came to face the public of the Locarno festival, in a gold leopard race which does not really seem to worry him. A few minutes after the first public presentation of the film and the flood of questions that the spectators were able to ask him, we find him in a slightly quiet place for a few minutes alone.
Bernard Stamm and Clotilde Courau.
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How was the connection made with Clotilde Courau and how did she find in the film?
Ten years ago, I was sworn here. And she too. I was impressed. For me, she was a princess. Then when I met her, the image of the princess dissipated. And we recognized ourselves in the cinema that we defended. It was also the year she had shot in a Garrel film, “the shadow of women”. I told her about making a film with her. I had only one idea, a boat story. And just a minimal scenario. But I think it was enough for him. It is such generosity.
How did your film edited?
With difficulty. I went to defend the film before the OFC Commission (Editor’s note: Federal Office of Culture) in Bern. But I was refused twice. However, Clotilde Courau came with me the second time. After this second refusal, I was a little transi. I had spoken to Godard, who had also suffered a refusal for “the image book”. Except that in the meantime, Cannes was interested in his film, which even ended up in competition before winning a special golden palm. The OFC then entered again. And we were able to take advantage of the film’s financial feedback through cinema success. Then from a third deposit in Cinéforom finally positive, RTS and various aids. For postproduction, the OFC did not want to follow. But his invitation and his selection in Locarno made them change their minds.
Not easy, all that. How does water, and indirectly sail, attract you?
For light and colors. Water reflects the sky and its 1000 variations. I wanted to film faces like landscapes, or vice versa. It is a project that I have been caressing for a long time. I had also spoken to Freddy Buachewho asked me to take some objects at home, towards the end of his life. And everything, in his room, told me to make the film. Several books evoking water in their title. Lots of signs indicated the management to take me.
How do you manage Godard’s inheritance, if you can say?
By freedom. This is what he taught me. You can be free in the cinema as we are in the puppet theater. In reality, there are no rules. In movie schools, we are being knocking out with that. I did Davi in Lausanne, then a collective film and another diploma. Today, I want to share “the lake” with as many people as possible. To present it. Fears, I don’t have them.
The “lake” team in Locarno.
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Why the three small points at the end of the film?
Because there will be others, films.
How do you sit in the world of Swiss cinema?
A bit apart. I never managed to do like everyone else. I would be unable to do something scripted, for example. And it’s not posture. I’m really like that.
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