If Haters Knew The Damage They Caused, They Would Stop Behaving Like This: Javier Marco On His Short "Face To Face"
Director Javier Marco’s short films have won numerous Awards and have screened at international film festivals including Clermont-Ferrand, Palm Springs, Krakow, Cleveland, and Leeds. His latest film, A La Cara (Face To Face), shares the story of a woman who confronts a man who has been abusing her online.
A television hostess faces the man who insulted her on a social network.
This topical film has screened at over 90 internationals film festivals, including the Huesca International Film Festival, and has won 50 Awards. We had the pleasure of chatting with Javier about the film, its origins, internet trolls, his collaborative relationship with Belén Sánchez-Arévalo, and much much more!
I know that you and Belén Sánchez-Arévalo have a long history, but how did the two of you first get connected and strike up such a fruitful collaborative relationship?
Belén and I have known each other for almost twenty years; we both studied film production, and this was one of the things that made us meet. At the beginning, we worked separately, but we began to make small short films together. In this process, we experimented and saw what tasks each of us were most comfortable with. We both realized that by adding our different visions, we completed each other, so we decided on collaborating. Furthermore, throughout this process we have been lucky to never be alone. Along the way, we have worked with great people, and thanks to all of them and their work, all the short films have been possible.
How did the concept for Face To Face (A La Cara) originate?
There are several occasions in which Belén and I have been tempted to leave social media so as to avoid that atmosphere of hatred and harassment, insults, negative opinions and even physical threats. There is not a single day in which we do not see any of these behaviors when we join social media. Regardless of who they are addressed to, it is something that has always caused us a lot of rejection, and we wanted to understand the reasons that lead a person to behave this way. And this led us to asking ourselves some questions. What would happen if for some reason that veil of invisibility that social media provides to the haters was broken? What if the hated person found out where his/her/their hater lives? These questions were precisely the gem that led us to the story of A La Cara and its characters.
What interested you most about making a film about an internet troll?
We were very interested in exploring the causes that led these type of people to act like this, and the consequences that the insults and threats cause to the person whom they were directed at. I want to think that if haters knew the damage they caused, they would stop behaving like this.
I liked that the film showed the duality of these individuals, how they’re different in person than they are behind a screen. I also really liked that the film uncovers the “why” behind this particular individual. Do you feel that a majority of internet trolls are out there causing a ruckus because it’s the only way they know how to be seen?
I think there are many causes that lead a person to become a hater, but regarding our character, we decided to focus on what is unfortunately the most common cause of all: loneliness. Our character, Pedro, is full of insecurities and frustrations. His life passes between the toxicity of his work and the one he finds when he walks through the door of his house. Social media is Pedro’s only window to the outside, he feels that it is the only way of communicating with the world. But the reality is that the more he enters that digital world, the more he isolates himself from the physical universe that surrounds him, and his problems of self-esteem, stress and loneliness increase.
The film hinges on the performances of its leads. How did you find you them, and what was the process like helping them shape their characters?
Manolo Solo and Sonia Almarcha are two great professionals, and from the beginning, they showed great involvement in the project. The two of them got fully into their characters. Their voices, their looks, the way they both listen to each other has been a great luxury for the short film. Also, being very intuitive actors, they both brought very interesting nuances to each new take we did during the shoot.
How did you work with your cinematographer Santiago Racaj to create the film’s aesthetics?
Working with Santiago always means success. It is a great privilege to have his experience, and I look forward to working on many films with him. We already worked together on the short film Muero Por Volver (I’m Dying To Return), and also on my first feature film, Josefina, shot this year (2021). We both understand each other very well and see cinema in the same way. Santiago always works with a concept that I really like, he respects the reality of the situation to create a cinematography that accompanies the characters and fills their living space.
What drew you to the visual arts? How did you get into directing?
The film that made me want to become a film director was Blade Runner (1982), by Ridley Scott. I saw it when I was eight years old and I was totally mesmerized by the images. I remember that the first time I saw it, I did not understand the plot, but it aroused a curiosity in me to know more about the craft of cinema and the people behind it.
Nice! Are there any other films or filmmakers that have inspired you, your style, or your approach to telling a story?
I love the realism that overflows Asghar Farhardi's cinema, where less is more. How elegant yet disturbing Darren Aronofsky's films are. And also, the tempo and way of telling intimate stories that director Kelly Reichardt has, especially in her film Wendy And Lucy.
What do you hope audiences take away from the film?
The first thing I hope audience find is a movie that they can enjoy, that was very important to us. At the same time we have tried not to tell all the elements of the story so that the audience can imagine Lina and Pedro’s lives, judge and understand them both.
Do you have any future projects in the works that you can share with us?
We have recently premiered our first feature film, Josefina, at San Sebastian Film Festival in the competitive New Directors section. Also the film will be screened in cinemas the 5th of November 2021. We are also in pre-production of our next feature film, A La Cara (Face To Face), based on the short film, and we hope to shoot it in 2022 or 2023!
What do you think? We want to know. Share your thoughts and feelings in the comments section below, and as always, remember to viddy well!