Competing Film Screening｜THE CHAPEL: A Melodic Story that Tugs at Heartstrings, a “Long-awaited” Experience

On the afternoon of June 12th, THE CHAPEL from the Main Competition of the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival had its screening and a meeting session with the audience. Director Dominique Deruddere, lead actress Taeke Nicolai, and producer Bart Van Langendonck attended the event to share their understanding of the film with the audience.

This was the first post-screening meeting of a foreign film in the SIFF Golden Goblet Awards Main Competition, providing a rare opportunity for international filmmakers to have a close interaction with audiences. Many viewers expressed their opinions at the event. Their enthusiasm impressed director Dominique Deruddere: “The audience in Shanghai is amazing!”

From Expression of Love to Challenges, Fans Impressed the Creators with Enthusiasm

The Belgian film THE CHAPEL revolves around Jennifer, a 23-year-old young pianist, who participates in the Queen Elisabeth Competition and lives with 12 other finalists. It tells the story of how she copes with childhood trauma while preparing for the competition. This psychological drama was directed by Dominique Deruddere, whose previous film EVERYBODY’S FAMOUS! was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film – it not only reveals the behind-the-scenes of a prestigious music competition but also delves into the inner world of a young pianist consumed by personal demons.

“It’s really moving!” From the reactions at the screening, it was evident that the audience was deeply touched. The first female viewer to speak at the post-screening discussion expressed her appreciation for the film in fluent English: “It’s a great story, and the lead actress is incredible!” Other viewers showed their love and wished THE CHAPEL success in the competition for the Golden Goblet Awards, saying, “I was deeply moved, and my emotions followed the film’s ups and downs.”

Besides the praises, some viewers attempted to “challenge” the director during the discussion. One male viewer asked about the trope of linking music with the protagonist’s traumatic memories, and if the director was concerned about following an old path. In response, Dominique Deruddere stated that music inherently possesses healing power and is particularly suited for exploring psychological themes. In his view, the fact that many films choose to incorporate music may be a reflection that many people have hidden traumas, thus explaining why creators are drawn to such stories.

At the end of the meeting, the creators had a group selfie with the audience, and lead actress Taeke Nicolai also posed for photos with several fans. The three guests expressed their shared gratitude to the enthusiastic fans. Although it was their first time in Shanghai, they couldn’t help falling in love with the city. “The atmosphere is fantastic, and the audience in Shanghai is amazing.”

Fans Discuss Close Interactions: An Exclusive Experience

Having face-to-face, close interactions with filmmakers is a highly anticipated part for many fans every June. Ms. Zhang revealed that she had never expected that the viewing experience could be so wonderful, and cherished the rare opportunity to express her feelings directly to the creators. “Through this meeting, I feel closer to the film.”

Ms. Lu, whose entire family are film enthusiasts, attended the screening with her mother. An old fan of the festival, she bought front-row tickets and had the signatures of the creators. “I enjoy the close interaction,” Ms. Lu said. At first, she didn’t know that this screening had a meet-and-greet part, but she believed that “a film in the Main Competition of the Golden Goblet Awards must be a great one, and Belgian films are rarely seen in local cinemas, so I must come here.”

Ms. Liu, who had a photo with the lead actress Taeke Nicolai, said that the film beautifully combines visuals and piano sounds, immersing viewers into the story. Her family swiftly grabbed the tickets, giving her a first-ever experience of a post-screening discussion. “What a surprise!”

This year’s SIFF has organized many post-screening interactions with creators. A lot of filmmakers have traveled from abroad to Shanghai. The long-awaited close exchanges are what both new and old fans call “the experience you can only have at a film festival.”

Healing Trauma with Piano: Director Tells How the Music Was Chosen

From EVERYONE BECOMES FAMOUS! to THE CHAPEL, director Dominique Deruddere excels at incorporating music into visual storytelling. This time, THE CHAPEL features a collaboration between father and son. The director’s son, pianist Louis Deruddere, also participated in the creation, infusing his passion for classical music into the film’s editing.

At the press conference, when asked why he chose to connect the entire story with the Queen Elisabeth Competition, Dominique Deruddere said that for piano learners, this internationally renowned competition holds extraordinary significance. The film places the protagonist and other competitors under the same roof, basically gathering them in a “psychological warfare”. He hopes that the psychological game and transformations of these competitors will make the story more enthralling.

The music selection in the film also holds deep meanings. Dominique Deruddere revealed that the main character has an intense fear of cold due to childhood trauma, so in the very beginning he had wanted to choose music that evoke coldness. Soon, he came across the works of Russian composer Rachmaninoff. After careful comparison and consideration, he believed that Rachmaninoff’s romantic and visually rich compositions perfectly complemented the film’s theme.

Remarkably, the first-time female lead Taeke Nicolai delivered wonderful piano-playing scenes despite having only studied the instrument for four months. She said humbly that she is still far from being a professional pianist and that her training was part of the effort to present the physicality of a professional performer as accurately as possible. Apart from that, Rachmaninoff’s music also greatly inspired her performance, and director Dominique Deruddere’s guidance helped her better understand the state of the protagonist and depict the complexities of her emotions. Producer Bart Van Langendonck also disclosed that when the director approached him with the story, he was immediately captivated by the idea, and that Taeke Nicolai’s performance proved that it was right to cast her as the lead.