TIFF '09 | Ounie Lecomte: "Was working as fashion editor while writing the script"

A scene from Ounie Lecomte's "A Brand New Life." [Image courtesy of TIFF]

"A Brand New Life" is an impressive debut by French-Korean filmmaker Ounie Lecomte who, inspired by her childhood, recounts the emotional journey of a little girl abandoned by her father in an orphanage. We gave Lecomte and others a free-form style interview to gather their thoughts on their individual projects…

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of a series of interviews indieWIRE will be running with the filmmakers screening in the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival’s Discovery program.

You...

Grew up with Korean grandparents who were Buddhists, abandoned in a Catholic orphanage, adopted by a French Protestant family.

Your Filmmaking Career and Process...

Was working as fashion editor while writing the script in a scriptwriting workshop where I met the French producer of the film.

"A Brand New Life"...

Met Lee Chang-dong when he came to Paris for "Secret Sunshine"'s release in France. Didn't know at that time he will become one of the Korean co-producers. It was luck and fate.
 

Your Influences

Many influences, but mainly Kiarostami ("Where is the Friend's Home?"), Satyajit Ray (The Apu Trilogy).
 

The Future

Be creative. Just continue to write and make other films.