Upclose with Gaspar Noé
French film director Gaspar Noé shot to fame with his provocative movie “Irreversible” in 2002. He was recently in town to show his latest work, “Enter the Void,” at the International Film Festival. He tells Winnie Yeung why he loves vice.
HK Magazine: “Enter the Void” is about the life of an American drug dealer in Tokyo named Oscar. Why Tokyo?
Gaspar Noé: I would’ve picked Hong Kong if I knew more people here. I’ve been to Japan 20 times, ever since I screened my first short film there. However, I wrote the story before deciding to shoot it in Japan. The story itself could be set anywhere but what I like about Tokyo is how its neon lights and architecture reminds me of “Blade Runner” and “Tron.”
HK: Oscar dies very soon after the film starts. His spirit rises from his body and for the rest of the film we are looking at either what is happening through his spirit or flashbacks through his eyes. Do you believe in an afterlife?
GN: Actually I don’t. You don’t need to be a Christian to make a film about Jesus. Instead, when I was younger I was fascinated by out-of-body experiences. I read books, tried breathing exercises and hypnotized myself to try to experience it but never succeeded. But still I thought, I should at least make a movie about it—how it feels and what it’s like to see things from above your own body.
HK: Would you like to be able to experience what Oscar experienced —being able to fly around and see what happens after his death?
GN: It wouldn’t be a nice thing actually—you see people saying shit about you, your girlfriend cheating on you.
HK: Your characters in the film all have an addiction; in particular Oscar is a junkie. Do you think people need addictions?
GN: An addiction is a direction for your life. My addiction is vodka—I can’t stop myself from going to parties, drinking vodka and talking to girls.
HK: Let’s talk more about vice.
GN: Yes, vice!
HK: You like looking into vice in your movies.
GN: I really like what Nietzsche said, “When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you.” Vice is something that should be repulsive and yet somehow attractive. I like to look into vice because, despite my not believing in evil, I think some people are crueler to others, because their perception of life is about dominance. A vicious girl is good because it makes a guy curious—it wouldn’t work as well the other way round though.