MOVIE • 2017

What If the Sky Was Empty

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In a psychiatric hospital, Thissa d'Avila Bensalah, a theater director, works on a theatrical construction inspired by Rainer Werner Fassbinder's BREMEN FREEDOM in which she involves nine patients under psychiatric care. The play's main role of Geesche is played by Annick. But what does it mean to make a fictional character come to life when that character is so close to one's own experiences ? A number of questions arise concerning the impact of Geesche's story on the intimate and collective life of the actors and actresses involved in the play. Annick, Georges, Jean-Pascal, Jean-Paul, Anne, Nordine, Felix, Stephane and Marie-Pierre question how their real lives overlap with their theatrical roles. These questions eventually develop into a common reflection on how psychiatry, patriarchal violence and social constructions are ultimately interwoven.