Zacharie Olivet

Nocturnes

Henry Colomer

Quentin Testas, Zacharie Olivet

In this poetic story, set in the late 1950s, the life of a small boy is influenced by historical events, ranging from the exploration of space to the Algerian War. His father is drafted and the boy’s cozy home changes into the cold walls of a barracks flat. His central focus becomes the world of child fantasy and imagination. The director has made an attempt at capturing the thoughts, dreams and anxieties of one child, which sets out on a journey to the centre of the Earth, while the adult hero remembering his childhood sets out on a journey to the centre of himself. The rhythm of the story flows just like a nocturne, a lyrical musical piece expressing a night mood. The director’s ambition was not to create a realistic film, but to try to transpose a child’s fantasies into images.