Clarisse

Synopsis

Director’s notes
For a while I was wanting to meet a community of Poor Clares and find out how they live and what they think. 800 years had gone by (1212-2012) since this community was founded by Clare of Assisi who left her family to follow Francis’ Brotherhood.

I mentioned this idea to Claudia Mori and she was immediately enthusiastic and wanted to be involved in the project. The idea was to shoot a series of questions that would pop up in my mind with no rehearsal or prep-time and catch their spontaneous reactions and answers. We shot with two cameras: one fixed, the other one for close-ups of whoever answered my questions. The focus was on their spontaneity, which helped me understand who they are and the richness of their interior life. The six members of my crew and myself were completely enthralled by the life of these strong women.

Liliana Cavani