Michel Franco – filmmaker – Chronic

FRED’s Chiara Nicoletti interviews Michel Franco, director of Chronic, in competition at the 68th edition of Festival de Cannes.

The film’s starting point is Franco‘s personal experience with his grandmother who had a stroke that permanently paralyzed half of her body. He became interested with the life and work of this nurse, who not only took care of her but also became an emotional support to his grandmother and a bridge for communication for her with her relatives.

Tim Roth liked the idea of the film and once he decided to join he also prepared his part by working with real patients and performing the tasks that a nurse normally does.

Michel Franco uses a static camera almost all the time in Chronic so that the portrait of these people’s lives can be as realistic as possible. In the interview we discuss a lot about the reasons behind the choice of the shocking and unexpected ending.

CHRONIC: David is a nurse who works with terminally ill patients. Efficient and dedicated to his profession, he develops strong and even intimate relationships with each person he cares for. But outside of his work David is ineffectual, awkward, and reserved. It is clear that he needs each patient as much as they need him.