Le Bonheur Leading Lights

Often described as the most beautiful horror film, Le Bonheur uses the stark juxtaposition of stunning floral French summertime with emotional devastation brewing just under the surface. Following a seemingly idyllic family, it lulls you into a false sense of security as it slowly unravels an insidious betrayal between two lovers. The brutal heartbreak of its final act seems at once inevitable and shocking, marking Le Bonheur as a revelation of cinematic feminist commentary.

Le Bonheur’s masterful visual poetry and slow build toward emotional revelation were guiding forces behind the development of Blue Heron. Varda puts an immense trust in the audience to follow a deceptively simple scenario as she elegantly applies cracks to the facade. I followed a similar architecture with my film, building a subtle escalation of familial dysfunction set against the background of a beautiful natural landscape. I was also inspired by Varda’s use of a distinct colour palette and striking imagery, especially in relation to the depiction of the innocence of young children within a family unit. Le Bonheur emphasizes atmosphere and subtle emotional shifts between characters rather than conventional plot and narrative momentum. This gave me confidence for the cadence of how Blue Heron unfolds.

Sophy Romvari, Leading Lights Guest Programmer