DIRECTOR’S NOTE

The idea for Délicieuse et Tragique was born from a deep desire to film the complexity of human relationships through the lens of a group of friends confronted with both the invisible and visible violence of our modern times. I wanted to explore that thin, sometimes invisible boundary between the innocence of shared pleasures and the sudden brutality of destiny.

The film revolves around this permanent duality, which is written right into its title. On one side, there is the "delicious" part of existence: warm reunions, passionate debates where we rewrite the world with a touch of philosophy, laughter, and the intoxication of bodies breaking free. On the other side, the "tragic" part suddenly emerges: mindless violence on a street corner, corporate cruelty through layoffs, incurable illness, and painful ethical choices regarding end-of-life or grief.

By choosing an ensemble film format, my goal was to give a voice to each of these journeys. Whether it is the silent distress of Michel, worn down by cynical management, the sensual and liberating awakening of Solange and Kristin, or Gérard's struggle against emptiness, each character embodies a facet of our own vulnerabilities. The dialogues, which I wanted to be sharp, fast-paced, and grounded in reality, constantly swing between biting comedy of manners and intense psychological drama.

The choice of settings also plays a crucial narrative role. Opposing the cold and suffocating verticality of urban spaces in Lyon or seminar rooms with the bright, peaceful horizontality of the Drôme and Ardèche hills allows nature to become a character in its own right. It is a return to roots, a geographical refuge where masks finally drop.

Délicieuse et Tragique is not a moralizing film. It is an invitation, much like the Baudelaire poem that runs through the piece, to get drunk on life, friendship, and freedom, while accepting our immense vulnerability. It is a film designed to shake up certainties and keep the conversation going with the audience long after the theater lights come back on.

Francis Lemoine – Director & Screenwriter

 

DELICIOUS AND TRAGIC   -    PRESS KIT