French director Flore Vasseur has opened up about her journey from high-flying entrepreneur in New York City to filmmaker whose feature debut “Bigger Than Us,” co-produced with Marion Cotillard, premiered at Cannes’ new sidebar dedicated to climate change.
It all started when the then 24-year old Vasseur witnessed the 9/11 attacks from her office in NYC.
“It was one of those life-changing moments, it tears away everything you believe, everything that you are. I had this intuition that there was a tangible reason why we were receiving these bombs and that I was contributing to this with my lifestyle, my ideas, my values. What I felt was not fear, but shame.”
Her quest to find answers took her to Afghanistan on a contract with the World Bank. “I was super happy, I thought I was going to make a change, but when I got there I realized that all the money...
It all started when the then 24-year old Vasseur witnessed the 9/11 attacks from her office in NYC.
“It was one of those life-changing moments, it tears away everything you believe, everything that you are. I had this intuition that there was a tangible reason why we were receiving these bombs and that I was contributing to this with my lifestyle, my ideas, my values. What I felt was not fear, but shame.”
Her quest to find answers took her to Afghanistan on a contract with the World Bank. “I was super happy, I thought I was going to make a change, but when I got there I realized that all the money...
- 7/14/2021
- by Lise Pedersen
- Variety Film + TV
Greta Thunberg isn’t the only teenager taunting governments to do more about the environmental crisis than respond with “beautiful words”. Bigger Than Us shows the Swedish activist is one of many, each drawing inspiration from one another, even when fighting very different corners. Connecting the dots in Bigger Than Us is Melati Wijsen, an 18-year-old whose campaign to stop single-use plastic in Indonesia was mounted almost a decade ago – like everyone featured here, her activism began early.
In Lebanon, she meets Mohamad, a Syrian refugee who constructed a school. In Malawi, she hears from Memory, who raised the marriable age for girls from 15 to 18. Through Rene, in Rio De Janeiro, she learns how he established a newspaper created by and for residents of the favelas. There’s also Xiutezcatl, a fracktivist in Colorado fighting shale gas development, Mary, a British photographer-turned-refugee activist in Greece, and Winnie, whose mission...
In Lebanon, she meets Mohamad, a Syrian refugee who constructed a school. In Malawi, she hears from Memory, who raised the marriable age for girls from 15 to 18. Through Rene, in Rio De Janeiro, she learns how he established a newspaper created by and for residents of the favelas. There’s also Xiutezcatl, a fracktivist in Colorado fighting shale gas development, Mary, a British photographer-turned-refugee activist in Greece, and Winnie, whose mission...
- 7/12/2021
- by Sunil Chauhan
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
“Bigger Than Us,” the environment-themed documentary executive produced by Oscar-winning actress Marion Cotillard and directed by Flore Vasseur, has been pre-sold by IndieSales to several major territories in the run to the Cannes virtual Marché du Film.
Currently in post-production, “Bigger Than Us” will be pitched live by Cotillard, Vasseur and the 18-year-old Indonesian environmental activist Melati Wijsen who is the docu’s protagonist, during Cannes’ online market on June 23. The talk, accessible only to registered buyers, will be moderated by Cph:dox festival director Tine Fischer and will be followed by a Q&a.
Indie Sales, which will also unveil exclusive first footage of the film during Marché du Film, has already inked deals with Koch Media (Germany), Maison 4:3 (Canada). Distribution in France will be handled by Jour2Fête with a release scheduled for December. Mars previously had French distribution rights.
In recent years, documentaries shedding light on environmental issues...
Currently in post-production, “Bigger Than Us” will be pitched live by Cotillard, Vasseur and the 18-year-old Indonesian environmental activist Melati Wijsen who is the docu’s protagonist, during Cannes’ online market on June 23. The talk, accessible only to registered buyers, will be moderated by Cph:dox festival director Tine Fischer and will be followed by a Q&a.
Indie Sales, which will also unveil exclusive first footage of the film during Marché du Film, has already inked deals with Koch Media (Germany), Maison 4:3 (Canada). Distribution in France will be handled by Jour2Fête with a release scheduled for December. Mars previously had French distribution rights.
In recent years, documentaries shedding light on environmental issues...
- 6/12/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Oscar-winning French actress Marion Cotillard is set to produce Flore Vasseur’s documentary “Bigger Than Us,” with Paris-based Indie Sales on board to represent the title in international markets.
“Bigger Than Us” follows an 18 year-old Indonesian teenager, Melati Wijsen, who has been lobbying her local government to ban the sale and distribution of plastic bags on her island, Bali, for the last six years. Now shooting, the documentary portrays Melati as she embarks on a journey to meet other young leaders and young activists based around the world.
“For more than 20 years, I’ve been involved in environmental and social causes, fighting to raise awareness for a more equitable world,” said Cotillard. “Becoming a mum, I felt instantly that my kid had so much to teach me. A new generation is choosing life and dignity. And they’re showing us the way.”
Cotillard and Ludovic Dardenay are producing “Bigger Than...
“Bigger Than Us” follows an 18 year-old Indonesian teenager, Melati Wijsen, who has been lobbying her local government to ban the sale and distribution of plastic bags on her island, Bali, for the last six years. Now shooting, the documentary portrays Melati as she embarks on a journey to meet other young leaders and young activists based around the world.
“For more than 20 years, I’ve been involved in environmental and social causes, fighting to raise awareness for a more equitable world,” said Cotillard. “Becoming a mum, I felt instantly that my kid had so much to teach me. A new generation is choosing life and dignity. And they’re showing us the way.”
Cotillard and Ludovic Dardenay are producing “Bigger Than...
- 5/9/2019
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
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