For someone who has been racking up awards at such recent events as The Toronto International Film Festival, it’s slightly surprising director Alexandre Franchi would deny being a so-called “movie buff.”
“Too many people make movies about movies so it’s always self-referential, it’s always the same,” said Franchi during an interview to promote his award-winning drama, The Wild Hunt. “(I’m inspired by) Greek tragedies, legends, opera, classical music — the structure of songs even.”
Although song structure may be less evident, The Wild Hunt definitely shows Franchi’s flair for Greek tragedy. Inspired by the very real underground world of LARP (live action role play), Franchi’s thriller presumes what might happen if reality became blurred in the eyes of thousands of Viking-costumed gamers armed with foam weapons in the woods. As co-writer and star Mark Krupa described, “It’s Lord of the Rings meets Lord of the Flies.”
“LARPing is not nearly as violent as it is in our film,” admitted Franchi while insisting participants still take it seriously.
“Where we shot the film, it’s a medieval co-op called Bicolline two hours northeast of Montreal and they have a medieval village they built year after year…it’s like a retreat, a medieval Woodstock that they do every summer.”
Franchi may have been the perfect candidate to fictionalize this subculture as well. A former financial advisor bored with his job, he admits he’s always had a soft spot for escapism.
“I was pulling all-nighters (then) … coming home at seven and going to work, saying to my assistant, ‘I was at the dentist this morning’ but really I had spent all night playing (Dungeons & Dragons).”
But just what is it that breeds the type of character who feels compelled to escape to the woods and battle in costume, and thus give The Wild Hunt its psychological thrust?
Having spent three weeks filming at Bicolline, Franchi may have some insight:
“(The) human condition is hard and people find time to get together and to revel and to regress and be primal. I think we’ve lost that in our society and that kind of community. LARPing has that appeal.”
