{"id":7862,"date":"2010-02-21T22:36:58","date_gmt":"2010-02-22T06:36:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/studentfilmreviews.org\/?p=7862"},"modified":"2010-02-21T22:39:36","modified_gmt":"2010-02-22T06:39:36","slug":"vital-signsles-signes-vitaux-sophie-deraspe-2009-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/studentfilmreviews.org\/?p=7862","title":{"rendered":"Vital Signs\/Les Signes Vitaux (Sophie Deraspe, 2009): Canada"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reviewed by Lava Farmer<\/a>. \u00a0Viewed at the Santa Barbara Film Festival.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Cinematographer, Screenwriter, and Director Sophie Deraspe<\/a> tells the unique story of a mysterious girl named Simone in the film Vital Signs<\/a>.\u00a0 Simone(Marie-Helen Bellavance<\/a>) returns home to Quebec City due to the death of her grandmother.\u00a0 She embarks on a mission of self discovery when she decides to volunteer at a local nursing home and help those that are dying.\u00a0 When asked by her unofficial boyfriend, Boris(Francis Ducharme<\/a>), why she is interested in hanging around with a bunch of sick old people, she reveals that she cherishes the tender moments she spends with the dying.\u00a0 In their final moments people are much more appreciative of the interactions and time they share with you.<\/p>\n

Deraspe explained that she enjoys working with a combination of trained actors as well as unprofessionals.\u00a0 Therefore when she met Marie-Helen Bellavance she was intrigued by her and decided to create a role for her.\u00a0 Deraspe worked intensively with Marie and supporting actor Francis Ducharme to prepare her for the role.\u00a0 Because of the chemistry between her and Francis, who is a professional actor, their interactions are real and believable.<\/p>\n

Deraspe\u2019s skill as a director of photography is apparent in practically every shot.\u00a0 She uses extreme close-ups to create an\u00a0 intimate relationship between the audience and the characters.\u00a0 She uses parallel editing and fluidity between shots to give to film a smooth pace.\u00a0 The use of shots from above looking down at the dead is an eerie effect.\u00a0 It seems like the perspective the soul might have as it leaves behind it\u2019s earthly body.<\/p>\n

The setting is also important and dynamic.\u00a0 The sterile, white hospital where Simone volunteers is lonely and slowly fading in life and energy.\u00a0 Outside as fall quickly turns to winter, the weather is harsh and cruel to those who brave it.\u00a0 Therefore, Simone\u2019s apartment is warm and comforting with soft yellow light to contrast the harsh outer world.\u00a0 Here she feels safe and in no need of help.<\/p>\n

A unique element of Deraspe\u2019s filmmaking is that she creates surprises in her shots that give it character.\u00a0 For example when Simone encounters her boyfriend Boris in the doorway to his apartment the shot is simple and straightforward.\u00a0 Then as he opens the door further, it is revealed that he is wearing only underwear and the audience responds with a chuckle.\u00a0 The biggest surprise of all is finding out that Simone is even handicapped.\u00a0 However, the way it is unveiled is startling and intriguing.<\/p>\n

Deraspe\u2019s unique cinematic vision comes to life in the strange story of a girl who cherishes the final moments of life.\u00a0 Her unique story and well tuned filmmaking make Vital Signs a pleasant surprise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reviewed by Lava Farmer. \u00a0Viewed at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. Cinematographer, Screenwriter, and Director Sophie Deraspe tells the unique story of a mysterious girl named Simone in the film Vital Signs.\u00a0 Simone(Marie-Helen Bellavance) returns home to Quebec City due to the death of her grandmother.\u00a0 She embarks on a mission of self discovery when […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":736,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,131],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7862","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-films","category-santa-barbara-film-festival-2010"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentfilmreviews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7862","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentfilmreviews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentfilmreviews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentfilmreviews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/736"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentfilmreviews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7862"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/studentfilmreviews.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7862\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentfilmreviews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7862"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentfilmreviews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7862"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentfilmreviews.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7862"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}