Academy Award-winning actress Juliette Binoche offered a wry response to recent comments made by Timothée Chalamet regarding the perceived relevance of ballet and opera, suggesting that cinema might be facing a similar fate. The exchange occurred during a Q&A session at the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival on Wednesday, where Binoche is presenting her directorial debut, “In-I In Motion.”
Chalamet sparked debate last month during “A CNN & Variety Town Hall Event” when he expressed concern that movie theaters could suffer the same decline as ballet and opera, institutions he suggested some believe are losing public interest despite dedicated efforts to maintain them. He stated he didn’t want theaters to become places where artists “keep this thing alive” even though “no one cares” about it anymore. Binoche’s playful retort – “I thought cinema was a dying art” – quickly circulated online, adding another layer to the ongoing conversation about the future of film.
Even as initially caught off guard by the question, Binoche downplayed the significance of Chalamet’s remarks. “It doesn’t matter what he’s saying. It doesn’t matter. Don’t make it big,” she said, emphasizing the importance of finding art that resonates personally. “What nourishes your heart and soul is what is important. You can watch a lot of films that are empty and make you dry at the end. What counts is what is nourishing your soul and life.”
Binoche’s own artistic journey, highlighted during the masterclass, underscores this sentiment. “In-I In Motion,” a documentary chronicling her 2008 stage collaboration with British dancer and choreographer Akram Khan, represents a deeply personal exploration of creative process and artistic vulnerability. The film, which premiered at the San Sebastian International Film Festival last year and will next be shown at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen, is assembled from rehearsal footage and live performances, offering a raw and intimate look at the creation of their groundbreaking work.
A Two-Decade Journey to the Screen
Speaking at the festival, Binoche revealed the nearly two decades it took to bring “In-I In Motion” to fruition. She shared how her experiences in dance and acting taught her to embrace fear and trust her intuition, lessons she attributed to working with acclaimed directors such as Leos Carax, Abbas Kiarostami and Olivier Assayas. “Be yourself. Trust your intuition. Don’t try to be somebody else,” she advised, emphasizing the importance of individuality in artistic expression.
The project gained momentum thanks to encouragement from the late Robert Redford, who saw a live performance of the stage present in New York and urged Binoche to create a film based on it. “I could hear what Robert Redford said to me, ‘You’ve got to make a film out of this show.’ I just heard him. And I knew he was right, but I didn’t recognize how to do it,” Binoche recalled. She initially lacked the resources and infrastructure to undertake the project, but the involvement of producers Ola Strøm and Solène Léger ultimately made it possible.
Documentary as a “Warrior” of Truth
Binoche modestly downplayed her role in the documentary filmmaking process, noting that “In-I In Motion” primarily features her as a subject. However, she paid tribute to the broader documentary filmmaking community, calling them “warriors” who tirelessly strive to capture and share truth, often facing financial struggles in the process. “They try to survive. They don’t earn a lot of money with their films. It’s a struggle, but I think a struggle that’s worth it because we need those documents in order to be closer to the truth of what’s going on,” she stated. She also honored the memory of Frederick Wiseman, whom she described as “the master of documentaries,” who passed away last month.
The Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival runs through March 15. Binoche’s comments offer a nuanced perspective on the ongoing debate surrounding the future of cinema, suggesting that artistic merit and emotional resonance ultimately outweigh concerns about audience size or perceived relevance. Her own work, both as an actress and now as a director, continues to champion the power of art to nourish the soul and illuminate the human experience.
As Binoche continues to share her directorial debut with audiences, the conversation sparked by Chalamet’s initial remarks – and her thoughtful response – is likely to continue, prompting reflection on the evolving landscape of the arts and the enduring importance of finding meaning and connection through creative expression.
What are your thoughts on the future of cinema and the role of art in society? Share your perspectives in the comments below.
