“The film will make a big noise in my country”… and it will impress you!

it’s night The street is empty. 17-year-old Adi takes advantage of this proximity to exchange kisses with the boy. His hell begins with this gesture of love. On his way home, he was the victim of a violent attack. The car stops. In order to file a complaint, he must endure the rumors of his small village, the abuse of his parents and the notices of the police, who are willing to do anything to suppress him.

Emmanuel Parvo’s “Three Kilometers to the End of the World” victim is guilty. He, a homosexual, is accused of inciting hatred towards the attackers. The film, which won the Queer Palme d’Or at Cannes, denounces the mechanism that protects criminals when the lives of minorities are at stake.

The story takes place in rural Romania, but could be set anywhere. Especially in France, where homophobic attacks continue to kill. For the director, Three Kilometers to the End of the World marks the distance between a small village and the sea, and the distance that separates humanity from its monster. at the meeting Emmanuel ParvoFilm director and screenwriter.

The plot of Three Kilometers to the End of the World can be adapted to real events. But it seems to me that it was inspired by other news…

Emmanuel Parvu, screenwriter and director: About ten years ago in our country, Romania, a girl was raped by seven men and all the inhabitants of her village turned against her, against the victim. For them, she deserved to be raped. “why is she wearing this dress“That’s the question they’ve been asking.

The priest even went on TV, you can find these pictures, and said:If the rapist faces seven years in prison, the girl should also get three to four months, because she did not rape her.“The judgment of the victims is completely unfettered. If you think such a thing, at least have the decency not to say it. don’t say shut up

These people should not be part of our society. I think so. I make films about children, orphanages, etc. I like to participate in social issues in my country. I really like debate. Except that I was a child who grew up in a beautiful family. I was not in an orphanage or a member of the LGBT community.

Therefore, I feel a responsibility to highlight these extremely serious issues from my perspective. I have to criticize what is wrong and what should be changed. We absolutely need to talk about it. We can’t always put the trash under the mattress. Let’s discuss.

“I can buy you, I can kill you” is a phrase I grew up with.

Homosexuality is decriminalized in Romania, but same-sex marriage is not allowed. How do you see the current situation in your country?

This is a traditional country and we are very conservative people. Bucharest is a cool, open-minded city, but Romania is not Bucharest. Just as Paris does not represent France and its small towns, its villages. Travel 15 kilometers from Bucharest and see what is happening there.

We are making progress, but I don’t think we are moving at the right speed. Everything is very slow. Against homophobia, but also against sexism, racism, xenophobia. I know this film will create a lot of buzz in my country. I know about it.

Do you understand these reactions?

I’m ready, I’ve been before. I don’t care if they say bad things about me or my films. My job is to ask questions, as we did with my first feature film. I think if I can help one person to have a better life, my job is done.

In the film, the main character’s parents cut him off from the outside world. It is their property. His body and life no longer belong to him.

I grew up in a communist system and there is this phrase that I hate but grew up with: “I made you, I can kill you.“99% of parents still use it today. This is what teaches children. I created you, I can give you everything, but also give you everything back. But you don’t own your children. This is a separate life and love cannot be conditional. The bond between parent and child is the strongest form of love. From the animal kingdom to man.

Despite everything, and this is probably the most difficult aspect of the film, I think the parents love their children.

Of course, but they cannot overcome their hatred. It’s bigger than their brain. They themselves were brought up like that. If the police came to their door and said:I saw your child steal or hit someone.“They reacted differently. It’s part of their world. But what is beyond their thinking, they cannot refer to it. It just doesn’t exist.

There is this detail in the young man’s room that caught my attention. Everything is empty, there is little decoration, only a religious frame and a photo of the music group U2. Why this group?

It’s a way of addressing the audience and telling them, “you too“It could happen to you. One day, it could be your child, their friend, or an acquaintance. Let’s observe our world and be careful because it can happen to you at any time.

Comments collected by Thomas Desroches, Cannes, 19 May 2024.

Emmanuel Parvo’s Three Kilometers to the End of the World, in theaters from October 23, 2024.