INTRODUCTION
A Wall is a psychological horror that explores grief, guilt, motherhood, jealousy and responsibility. It’s a dark and layered fable about the importance of “being good”, set in a world of Lynch-meets-Bergman monochromatic grunge and grit. Its film language is stylised, its performances naturalistic - and in this curious, heightened energy, our the story unfolds.
LOGLINE
Desperate for a child, Violette capitalises on the accidental death of her postnatal sister-in-law, taking the newborn baby for herself. But a sentient wall witnesses the scene. 17 years later, the now-teenage Albert is deep in an identity crisis. He journeys in attempt to track down his enigmatic father, a fictitious figure he has been unknowingly lied about his entire life. Albert's voyage returns him to his roots, leading him to commune with the wall and learn the devastating truth of his past - and who his mother really is. Violette tries to intercept... and supernatural vengeance unspools.
PROCESS
Thus far, we have been shooting the film in stages, interweaving the passage of time into the filmmaking method. This has enabled us to integrate real-life events such as actor Manon Ouimet’s actual pregnancy into the filming. The first half of the filming process, which was self-funded, is now complete and in terms of story, we are exactly at the halfway mark. We are now editing the first half of the film, whilst plotting the beats for second half. This fluid process is providing wonderful creative insight and opportunity.
SYNOPSIS
We have filmed the following…
When 30 year-old Marine moves into her new home, she forms a romantic obsession with a wall in the living room. She struggles with this seemingly illogical infatuation, though concludes that the wall symbolises her recently deceased husband. As time moves on, Marine discovers that she is pregnant - and must have become so during her honeymoon, just before her husband died.
Marine’s 40 year-old sister-in-law, Violette (whose brother was Marine’s husband), is on her final attempt of IVF treatment. A recovering alcoholic, Violette yearns for a baby. Violette’s mother dies of a stroke and, grief-stricken, Violette turns up at Marine’s house, after that Marine is 9 months pregnant.
Marine is oblivious of Violette’s many rounds of IVF. Violette offers her help around the house, secretly believing that approximating herself with a pregnant woman might increase her own chances with fertility. This doesn’t work, and Violette’s IVF fails.
Heartbroken, Violette slips back to alcoholism. She, too, forms a secret obsession with the wall, though finds it scares her, always watching, always judging: in Violette’s case, the wall represents guilt and sorrow.
Marine has the baby at hospital and returns home with the newborn Albert. A distinctive birthmark resembling the wall’s marking sits on his cheek. Violette and Marine become closer while Violette hides both her drinking - and her coveting the baby.
Marine’s neighbour drops over with her two year-old daughter. They meet Albert, wishing Marine congratulations.
During a desperate call with her sponsor, Violette commits to quit drinking once and for all.
Upon returning from a medical inspection, Marine falls down the stairs, tumbling and cracking open her head. She lays, blood pooling. In a moment of spontenaity, Violette uses the opportunity to take the baby for herself. Violette drinks heavily, scooping up the baby, ready to flee.
But right then, the wall picks her up and pins her to its surface, choking her. Violette promises the wall that she will look after the baby and quit drinking immediately. The wall releases her.
We are yet to write the second half of the film…
SIZZLE REEL
This sizzle reel provides an idea of the world of the film. It uses moments from the first half of the film that we have shot.
THE ACTORS
Clémentine Poidatz as Violette
Clémentine is a remarkable talent. Playing Violette, the antagonist in A Wall, Clémentine’s ability to inhabit a sympathetic character who slips from fragile and hopeful to a shattered wrongdoer is incredible. Clémentine’s work includes Mars (2016), Shut In (2016) and Marie Antoinette (2006). She has also previously worked with Jacob Perlmutter on 35mm production French Exchange (2017), starring alongside George MacKay.
Manon Ouimet as Marine
A Wall is Manon’s acting debut. As a filmmaker and photographer,
Manon knows what is required - and has thrown herself at the role with awesome commitment, including the integration of her pregnancy into the film.
Cosima Shaw as Nancy
Cosima’s acting history showcases her diverse and captivating presence. Cosima plays Nancy, a character whose return in the second half of the film is fundamental in the narrative’s unspooling and drive. Cosima’s work includes includes Mars (2016), A Small Light (2023) and The Danish Girl (2015).
THE FILMMAKERS
Manon et Jacob is a film production company. Two Strangers Trying Not To Kill Each Other, their two-time BIFA nominated, multi award-winning debut feature-length documentary, is currently circulating international festivals and is a coproduction with six-time Oscar® nominated production company Final Cut for Real. The film was also coproduced with Fremantle and Louverture Films.
Jacob Perlmutter - Director, Writer, Producer
Jacob is an award-winning film director. and street photographer. His work includes the two-time BIFA nominated 2024 feature documentary Two Strangers Trying Not To Kill Each Other. He has directed over twenty music videos and several short films including 35mm French Exchange (2017), starring George MacKay, Executive Produced by Chris Columbus, Sandy Lieberson and Roger Pratt B.S.C.
Manon Ouimet - Director, Writer, Producer
Manon is an Arts Council England-supported photographer and filmmaker who has exhibited at the likes of the Saatchi Gallery and The Jewish Museum. Her accolades include the British Photography Award, the Feature Shoot Emerging Artist Award and the Monochrome Award. Her project My Name is Maya (2021) was long-listed for the Jerwood Photoworks Award.
Compelled to explore themes of identity through moving image, Manon began making films. 2024 sees the release of her two-time BIFA nominated debut feature documentary Two Strangers Trying Not To Kill Each Other which she co-directed with Jacob Perlmutter. Manon and Jacob coproduced the film with six-time Oscar® nominated production company Final Cut for Real.
Yiannis Manolopoulos - Cinematographer
Yiannis studied and practiced cinematography at the London Film School and has since been involved as a DoP in numerous professional productions around the world for more than a decade. As an image creator he has a passion for imbuing aesthetics with meaning to communicate the message non-verbally.
His awards include the LFS PANALUX award for Cinematography and two nominations for the BSC Short film cinematography award in 2017 and 2021. His first feature film as a Director of Photography, Utopia, was longlisted for the 88th Academy awards.
In 2024 Yiannis was nominated for a BAFTA award and shortlisted for an OSCAR.
Olivia Emden - Story co-writer
Olivia’s projects include The Warrior Queen of Jhansi (2019) starring Derek Jacobi and Rupert Everett for Cayenne Pepper Productions, as well as the short film Hero (2018), produced and directed by Freddie Fox and starring Charles Dance, James Norton, and Lily James, which won the Grand Prize for Shorts at the Rhode Island International Film Festival.
Olivia is also trained as an actor, and her credits include Danny Boyle’s Sex Pistols series, Pistol (2022).
NEXT STEPS
We are looking for a small amount of funds in order to make an assembly edit of the first half of the film, and to write the second half. We will then find further investment to shoot the second half, edit the film entirely, and complete post-production.
BUDGET
For budget information, please email Manon: manon@manonouimet.com
CONTACT
Manon: manon@manonouimet.com
Jacob: jacobperl@gmail.com