This fantastic film is unlike any other French film! Our ceremonies were said by his director

At only 27 years old, Simon Rieth has already made six short films and signed his first film with Nos Cérémonies. A tragic tale where summer boredom mixes with the experiments of two brothers who kill each other in order to better revive each other.

Presented at Cannes Critics’ Week 2022, this oddity manages to stand out from what French cinema usually offers. The director mixes drama with fantasy while offering an instructive story. Everything is carried by two brothers, Raymond and Simon Baur, two revelations.

Their relationship is essential because brotherhood is one of the main themes of Simon Ritt’s work. Since starting, he has never stopped exploring the subject, inspired by the entwined relationship he has with his own brother.

Our ceremonies are a personal project born out of memories of a summer spent with family in Royan. It is in this city, located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, that the plot takes place. After the death of their father, Noah and Tony return to the resort and reunite with their childhood sweetheart Cassandra.

From an early age, the two heroes hide a secret: Tony can die and resurrect his brother. “This ritual is a metaphor for brotherly love for meexplain Simon Rieth. It is such a strong love that it transcends all boundaries.”

To tell this story, he decides to turn to Greek tragedy. “I wanted to start from a classic formula to create a specific world that is unique in its own way“, he continues. The colors on the screen are saturated, the frames instantly reach the retina.

“I wanted to look for the shine, let it all be too muchexplains the film director. Same with the costumes of the characters, I wanted them to look like the sun. We had to go there, not to be afraid and avoid holding back.Simon Rieth cites John Ford’s Prisoner of the Desert as a visual inspiration.

Finding actors was one of the biggest challenges. Casting continued – more than a year and a half – and, in total, 800 young people auditioned. It was on Instagram that the director discovered his rare pearls, models by profession, Simon and Raymond Baur.

I really spent a lot of my life trying to “kill” my brother.

The bond that unites these two actors is real, impossible to fabricate, and without knowing it, their personal history resonates with the film. Martial arts champions, they have practiced numerous choreographies in which Raymond Baur, armed with a spear, “kills” his brother.

“Of course, these are only moves made during competition, but I really spent a lot of my life “killing” my brother.he says. His performance in the film is strange.”

Simon Ritt, who was used to filming non-professionals, reworked his script to be even closer to the actors. For six months, the trio met frequently for rehearsals. With modeling backgrounds, Simon and Raymond Baur find a natural ease in front of the camera.

Mutual trust allows the team to push certain boundaries, especially during violent scenes. “I asked myself a lot of questions to know how I could shoot itR”, says the director. Showing the death of a child, hanging… you have to know how to show modesty and not be overly involved.

Thanks to successful special effects and many invisible screen strategies, the magic trick works. “I wanted to create effects with an aesthetic, real identity– adds Simon Ritt. He goes even further by capturing these intense moments in sequential shots to emphasize the realism of the situations.

Many of the dreamlike moments that run through the story are like a movie: poetic, sensitive and visually stunning. Our ceremonies allowing Simon Ritt to establish himself as a filmmaker.

Interview by Thomas Desroches, Cannes, May 2022.

Our Ceremonies by Simon Ritt, at the cinema on 3rd May.