PANAJI
From the brave courtroom struggle of 12-year-old Karla to the whimsical, imaginative world of 11-year-old Fuki, IFFI screens shimmered with stories that linger in the heart and the journeys behind these moving tales, where courage, curiosity, and imagination transform childhood trials into cinematic triumphs.
The 56th IFFI witnessed a riveting press conference today as Christina Theresa Tournatzès, Director of Karla, and Christophe Bruncher, Co-Producer of Renoir, shared the stories behind their acclaimed films.
Director Christina Theresa Tournatzès spoke about the delicate and emotionally charged journey of bringing Karla to life on screen. The film tells the harrowing true story of 12-year-old Karla, a courageous girl who faces her abusive father in court. With only two witnesses, the trial becomes a tense battle of “word against word,” and for Karla, recounting her trauma is both heart-wrenching and profoundly challenging.
The film follows Karla’s perspective intimately, highlighting the silences, hesitations, and speechlessness imposed by trauma. The judge becomes a pivotal figure, the only person who truly listens and helps Karla find her voice. The story’s authenticity is rooted in family history and a relative of Karla grew up with the story and transformed it into a lifelong project, ultimately bringing it to the screen.
Christina highlighted the universal relevance of the film. Sexual assault against children is a pervasive global issue, and Karla focuses on the survivor’s narrative while carefully preserving the child’s dignity.
She also reflected on the film’s premiere in Munich, describing it as a “home run,” and shared the thrill of presenting it in India for the first time at IFFI. Working with the 12-year-old lead, Christina emphasized creating a safe and nurturing environment, allowing the child actor’s performance to remain instinctive, genuine, and compelling.
Co-Producer Christophe Bruncher offered an engaging peek behind the scenes of Renoir, a film that captures the enchanting world of childhood through the eyes of 11-year-old Fuki.
While the title nods to the famous French painter, Bruncher explained, “It’s not a biopic. Like an Impressionist painting, the story is made of small, fragmentary moments that, when seen together, create a rich emotional picture. That’s what makes this film feel alive and poetic.”
Set in Tokyo during Japan’s economic boom of 1987, Renoir follows Fuki, a sensitive and curious girl coping with her father’s terminal illness and her mother’s mounting stress. To navigate her loneliness and the pressures of growing up, she retreats into a magical world of imagination, telepathy, and playful experimentation—even calling a dating hotline!
Bruncher highlighted the universality of Fuki’s journey. “What we wanted to capture is how children process big, adult problems with their own inner logic. Fuki’s imagination is her way of making sense of the world,” he added.
Bruncher said that the film delicately explores the bittersweet realities of childhood, family, and societal change. “The young actress delivering Fuki’s performance is a revelation—technically strong, instinctive, and emotionally captivating. Though she narrowly missed the Best Actress award at Cannes, she was honored with Best New Performer at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, cementing her status as a remarkable talent,” he stated.
Renoir is a celebration of childhood wonder, curiosity, and courage, inviting audiences to see the world through the eyes of a child navigating the delicate balance between play and life’s harsh realities.
