“It may be the most realistic film I’ve ever made, yet it is still imbued with poetry. I would never be content simply making realistic films.” Jean-Pierre Jeunet talks to us about his latest film, Violette.
With Violette, the father of Amélie takes on the adaptation of a bestselling novel by French author Valérie Perrin. Making its North American premiere at Montreal’s CINEMANIA Film Festival, Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s latest feature is a fine addition to the filmmaker’s body of work. Jeunet, who was also presented with a special award in recognition of his “outstanding contribution to cinema” at the festival’s opening night, delivers a film that is both rich and captivating. While occasional difficulties with the handling of time keep a few scenes toward the end from reaching their full potential, the film remains generous, evocative and thoroughly enchanting. Jeunet’s distinctive cinematic universe blends seamlessly with Valérie Perrin’s writing, resulting in a spectacular visual experience — one that includes what the director himself calls the finest shot of his career.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Jean-Pierre Jeunet during his visit to Montreal to discuss his passionate, hands-on approach to filmmaking, the painstaking craft of building a richly detailed cinematic world, his collaboration with Leïla Bekhti and Matthias Schoenaerts, his views on the use of artificial intelligence in cinema, and much more.
The 32nd edition of the CINEMANIA estival runs November 4–15, 2026.
