After being selected in Cannes in 2020, The Last Piano is coming out in cinemas. This first feature film by Jimmy Cyrus tells the story of a pianist seeking freedom in a war-torn world. The director reveals the behind the scenes of this film.
The 2020 Cannes label “The Last Piano” is Jimmy Cyrus’ first feature film, a sequel to his BAFTA Award-winning short film Nocturne in Black. Thus, the Lebanese screenwriter and director takes on the story of Karim, a talented pianist whose dream career opportunities have been hampered by the war in Syria and the restrictions imposed by the Islamic State.
When his piano, the only change to escape from this hell, is destroyed, Karim aims to find the necessary parts to repair his instrument and embarks on a long journey to regain his freedom.
Inspired by true stories
From short film to feature film, now in the movies, Jimmy Keiruz was inspired by some of the true stories of artists whose Islamic State has taken away their art, as he explains:
“When I heard that the Islamic State had banned music in Syria and Iraq, I was shocked because I could not imagine a wonderful ban on music like this. I started researching and came across several articles about musicians, artists, dancers, sculptors, artists and more They continued to violate the absurd rules imposed by the terrorists.
Thus, they turned their art into a weapon against extremism. So I decided to make a short film – and then a feature film – about the struggle through hope and art based on this idea. I was inspired by these characters and imagined the story of a young man who had to restore his piano in the middle of the war to make his dreams come true. ”
For the role of Karim, the last piano character, the director once again called Tarek Yakub, who has already played the same character in the short film “Nocturne in Black”. Clearly, for Jimmy Cyrus, as an actor, he understands issues with his character:
“Karim is a man who fights for his dreams and ambitions. This fight is something I can easily master. We all have huge obstacles that we must overcome to achieve our goals, especially in this part of the world … Tarek Yakub understands this aspect. The character is very The world of cinema is no longer easy, the actor was quite difficult and to do it in Lebanon or the Middle East – especially – so he could very easily identify Karim. We worked together. A lot of things about authenticity. has.”
Filming in Iraq
In order for his staging to gain authenticity and immerse the audience in the horrors experienced by the people oppressed by the Islamic State, Jimmy Cyrus and his crews were filmed in Syria and Iraq. For the director, “Shooting in the studio was not an option” :
“We needed destroyed neighborhoods and a completely ruined city to rebuild war and destruction. So our only solution was to shoot where the story was going: in Syria or in Iraq. We finally managed to shoot in Mosul, Iraq, especially in the old city. Which is the last place where Islamic State fought. “Everything has been completely destroyed, many streets and neighborhoods are in ruins.”
For the staging, Jimmy Cruz took a different frame between the scenes of violence that invaded Karim and the music scenes that allowed him to regain his breath and control: “Sections of action, violence or war are filmed with a camera that was often moving, dynamic; While Karim plays the piano, the camera is more stable, placed on rails. The purpose of this staging is abstract. During the music scenes from the war and thus transferring the audience from one world to another. “
To the music of Gabriel Yared
It is impossible to use the story of a pianist and art in a film without a musical score. And it was the famous French composer of Lebanese descent Gabriel Yared who wrote the music for Le Dernier Piano. Director Jimmy Cyrus was happy and proud of this collaboration with the composer, César Laureate for L’Amant, and the Oscar-winning English Patient:
“He has always been an ideal partner for this film. Growing up in Lebanon, his perception of the Middle East and his approach to creating music enhanced storytelling. The collaboration was very fruitful. He added a touch, not necessarily oriental, but original. And unique in his music. “That allowed me to work with a composer of this caliber and meet such a beautiful person.”
Source: allocine
Emily Jhon is a product and service reviewer at Gossipify, known for her honest evaluations and thorough analysis. With a background in marketing and consumer research, she offers valuable insights to readers. She has been writing for Gossipify for several years and has a degree in Marketing and Consumer Research from the University of Oxford.
