Meet the Filmmakers: VERMINT and REFEEL
Describe your film in just one sentence.
Omer Harel: “It’s a poor sort of memory that only works backwards.” ― Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass (This quote also appears at the end of the credits of REFEEL.)
Fabian Janssen: VERMINT is a small touch of uplifting spirit and strong people in a very dark and hopeless place.
Juliane Tutein: ...and a film about a forgotten war and brave people who still believe in a better future.
If your film were an animal, what animal would it be?
Omer Harel: If my film were an animal, it would be a sea turtle that came out of the sand for the first time and reached the sea.
Fabian Janssen: A raven.
Juliane Tutein: A dove.
What was the best / funniest / worst thing that happened while shooting this movie?
Omer Harel: Because of the time changes the characters experience in my film, we had to create a specific look for each character at different ages. That’s why we planned for the present-day Neri (the hero of the film) to have a beard. On the first day of shooting, after we’d finished shooting the past Neri without a beard, the makeup artist tried to put some fake stubble on the actor’s face.
We stopped the shoot as we waited for this to be done, and after an hour and a half I realized it wouldn’t look good no matter what we tried to do, so I decided to give up on the stubble and keep only the wig we’d brought along for the present-day Neri. When we’d finished the first day of shooting, we realized that we’d created a look that is very similar to the look of the character Spock from STAR TREK. Initially this situation wasn’t funny at all, but in the end I really liked this look, because it gave the present-day Neri this strange sci-fi look I’d been looking for, and it became an inside joke among the actors and the crew during the rest of the shoot.
What is your favorite movie quote of all time?
Omer Harel: PULP FICTION (1994) — Mia Wallace and Vincent Vega are talking in the diner. Mia Wallace: “Why do we feel it’s necessary to yak about bullshit in order to be comfortable?” Vincent Vega: “I don’t know. That’s a good question.” Mia Wallace: “That’s when you know you’ve found somebody really special — when you can just shut the fuck up for a minute and comfortably share silence.”
Fabian Janssen: “Stupid is as stupid does.” — FORREST GUMP (1994).
Which filmmaker would you like to have a beer with?
Omer Harel: I’d be more than happy to have a beer or even a couple with Gaspar Noé (whose films were part of my inspiration in creating REFEEL).
Fabian Janssen: Ridley Scott, Pedro Brito da Fonseca, and Paul Moreira.
What was the first film you remember seeing at a movie theater?
Omer Harel: The first film I watched in a movie theater was THE LION KING (1994) and today it’s still one of my favorite films of all time. I even have a tattoo of the young Simba on my back.
Fabian Janssen: THE TRACE OF THE RED BARRELS (1996).
Juliane Tutein: Also THE LION KING (1994).
What is your favorite party song?
Omer Harel: “Alone” by DJ Offer Nissim.
If you weren’t a filmmaker, you’d be a ...?
Omer Harel: Probably I’d be a plastic surgeon.
Fabian Janssen: Politician.
Juliane Tutein: Yes, me, too: a politician.
Is this your first visit to Munich? What do you expect from the festival?
Omer Harel: I visited Munich a couple of years ago. My family and I drove from there to a ski resort. I remember it as a beautiful city that I wish I could have explored more back then, so I look forward to seeing it again. Also, I hope to watch a variety of films during the festival which will open my mind and meet some interesting filmmakers.
Fabian Janssen: No, I’ve been there a few times. I hope to get in touch with other interesting filmmakers and watch great movies.
