Benjamin Ree follows “Ibelin” with “the biggest illusion”

Do you want to see something magical?

In the next doc “The Greatest Illusion”, Benjamin Ree – Behind the list of Oscars “Ibelin’s remarkable life” and “The painter and the thief” – will focus on the Norwegian illusionist Alexx Alexxander.

Alexxander, who loses crucial memories after a traumatic experience, deals with everything on stage, in large -scale personal magic shows. He creates his own alternative reality – just like the protagonist “Ibelin” Mats Steen, suffering from a degenerative muscle disease and finding refuge in the world of Warcraft.

“I think it’s a good interpretation,” said Ree Variety to Norwegian Intl. The Haugesund film festival, just before “The Greatest Illusion”, won a prize at the Nordic Co -production market.

“These are stories of resilience. Humans have an enormous ability to survive and find a meaning in life. Towards the end of his life, the carpets could barely move his fingers and he has always helped people everywhere in Europe. They wrote to his parents after his death, sharing stories about him as IMI. I am attracted by this kind of kindness. It can change their life. “

When Ree started filming, Alexxander went bankrupt. Towards the end of the shooting, he was an international star, performing the favorite spot of Orson Welles, the castle of Magic and promising to make the emblematic Hollywood brand disappear.

“I firmly believe in the power of hope. But it is not the kind of hope of Disney; it is more grumpy and more complex. We need it these days,” said the director.

“Magic and illusions were extremely important for Alexx. When life was his harshest, he went on stage and played. This is what fascinates me: its ability to make personal magic and connect it to your own story. ”

Ree wants to invite the public to Alexxander’s inner life and “show how trauma affects memories”.

“I come from a journalistic environment. I worked for Reuters, dealing with a kind of truth, which is extremely important, but there are more subjective truths. One of my favorites is “The Book of Dreams” by Fellini, where he wrote on his dreams and nightmares. Alexx is used to doing the same thing.

But his memories, hiding a terrible secret, change constantly.

He added: “In the film, we will show different versions of what he tries to remember. They did it brilliantly in” The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind “, which is a reference. I also experienced how memories can change because of trauma and depression. It is very scary.”

Applicating a life injury from Alexxander, Ree decided to work with a therapist.

“Instead of usual interviews with Alexx, this kind of” digging “is done in a therapy room by a specialist. We were allowed to film the sessions,” he said.

Alexxander and his family will be involved in the film.

“I want to include them as much as possible. They will look at the first version and they will be there for test projections. It is extremely important because the people on which we make films will live with them forever. They should understand how they are received by the public. Determine how to tell their story is not only an artistic choice; it is an ethical choice.”

On “Ibelin”, the family of Mats has watched several different modifications.

“They had no comments; They just wanted to be part of it. They used the film in their process of mourning and healing still in progress. ” They also ended up accompanying Ree to festivals. “They went to each projection. I hope that Alexxander’s family will also do it to a certain extent, but it’s up to them to decide. ”

For the moment, Alexxander should interpret his art alongside projections.

“We hope we will make magic fashion again,” said Ree, laughing.

“It is one of the oldest art forms and it is so linked to the history of cinema. Georges Méliès [behind 1902 ‘A Trip to the Moon’] was a magician! The goal is to mix two Davids: David Copperfield and David Lynch. And to make it work.

While fiction takes “the painter and the thief” and the life of Mats Steen is also in development, Ree “has nothing to do with them”.

“I hope they will also look at the people of the documentaries,” he noted. Ingvil Giske, producing for Medieoperatørene, added: “I think the documentaries have always tried to play with the form. The first film is a documentary, right? I just think that the story of the documentary is not as present in our mind as the story of the fiction film. Our community must recommend more for its presence, ”she argued. Also as an art form, I insisted on Ree.

“A documentary has never been nominated for the best Oscar film and so many films deserve this recognition.”

“Real stories have something different to offer that fiction. These are real people who go through a terrible period and create a life that is worth living. It’s real mats Steen, a real Alexx Alexxander, and not a famous actor recreating their lives. It is the beauty of the documentary: authenticity. ”