In order to highlight part of the behind the scenes of creation, Rebecca Manley, director of the film Table Manners, answers our dreamlike questionnaire.
Discover the dreamlike universe of the directors, the imaginary worlds that influence them, the conscious or unconscious references underlying the films.
1- The character who touched you the most?
Many fictional characters have touched me but here are the ones that touched me the most: Bagpuss, the cloth cat, from the British television series of the same name. E.T. and Elliot, the relationship between the two characters is magical. Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables, a strong woman and female role model for me, with all the qualities of a great heroine, intelligence, determination, empathy and exuberance. I also love Sarah from Labyrinth (1986) and Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz for the same reasons. Tick Tock back in Oz also has a special place in my heart for his sweetness and devotion to Dorothy. Frodo from Lord of the Rings, the books, his journey often made me cry! For children's picture books, Max by Max and the Maximonstres, deliciously naughty but also vulnerable. And I like Miffy, simple and beautiful. The list is long!
2- The character that scared you the most?
As a child, I was terrified of the Wicked Witch of the West from “The Wizard of Oz.” For a long time, I had a recurring nightmare of her chasing me with an axe. I know, it's horrible.
3- The character you would most like to meet?
“Totoro” because he would hold me tenderly in his arms and the dragon “Falkor” from The Neverending Story because I could ride on his back, go on an adventure and fly through the clouds.
4- The character you would like to reincarnate as (^_^)?
“Galadriel” in “The Lord of the Rings” because she is wise, serene and very cool.
5- The world you would like to live in?
The Chocolate Room in the original version of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (1971) but maybe that would make me too sick... The magical world of "Harry Potter" after the destruction of Voldemort! I would love to be a Hogwarts student. In a drawing by Maurice Sendak.
6- The world you wouldn't want to live in?
“Alice in Wonderland”. I love the story and the characters but I couldn't get used, in one or two days, to the erratic behavior of the inhabitants and the lack of rules.
7- What role would you like to play in a work of fiction?
Can I respond with an existing character? "Rey", in the third Star Wars trilogy, is pretty cool. As a kid, I never wanted to be "Leia" and always thought "Han" was the coolest character. “Rey” looks a lot like him.
8- Your earliest memory of fiction?
“The Wizard of Oz” and “Star Wars”.
9- Your favorite word?
"Rumpus" (in Max and the Maximons).
10- Music you would like to listen to now?
A Beatles song or music from one of Wes Anderson's films. Original English version: