?I know Woody Allen?s works very well and I admire him. Naturally, I can also see the differences very well,? said Mouret, who has directed and starred in such romantic comedies as Shall We Kiss? and Please, Please Me!
?We have some points in common, for instance our choice of topic,? Mouret said referring to the fact that his films deal with relationships and the neuroses that make them difficult.
The Art of Love includes several storylines that occasionally interact. The characters find it difficult to remain monogamous: the young people fear losing out, while an older female character simply wants lots of men.
Mouret said he did not consider sexuality the most typical aspect of relationships, but added that sex offered a suitable way of presenting typical situations and conflicts.
?The film revolves around sex. But what I explore is whether this subject needs to be handled as taboo,? he said, explaining that there was an open and enlightened discussion about sexuality in French society.
?It is a more interesting subject than politics, isn?t it,? he added.
The common denominator in the lives of couples in the film is love, and Mouret uses romantic classical music to emphasise the revival of feelings.
?Music plays an important role in the film, it symbolises happiness. Music is able to perfectly express human emotions, it is like emotional narration,? the director said.
Asked whether his stories are based on real-life events, he said he experienced them only while day-dreaming. ?Some people look for subjects in crime reports, others in sociological studies but I resort to my day-dreaming,? he said.
The Art of Love features Pascale Arbillot, Ariane Ascaride, Frédérique Bel, Francois Cluzet, Julie Depardieu, Judith Godréche and the director.
Asked what the subject of his next film would be, he said it would again be about relationships.
?The subject will be the fall and sin,? he said. ?I usually only realise what my story is about once I finish writing it,? he added.
Mouret said he usually does not attend international premieres of his films. ?I did not even realise that Shall We Kiss? was being shown in Hungary and the responses were not bad,? he said.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
