“It’s a collage film about unspoken love”: Jacqueline Lentzou on Moon, 66 Questions

Moon, 66 Questions is the poetic and idiosyncratic feature debut of Greek director Jacqueline Lentzou that follows the story of a young woman, Artemis (Sofia Kokkali), who must return to her home city of Athens from France to care for her estranged father, Paris (Lazaros Georgakopoulos), newly plagued by a debilitating illness. In a non-conventional approach to visual storytelling, it takes the form of a cinematic collage, piecing together moments that gradually build a picture of the shifting relationship between father and daughter, where the past rears its head and fleeting feelings of joy interrupt tension and resentment. Where roles of carer and cared-for are reversed, both must explore this new territory and find new ways to be around one another physically and connect emotionally.

The Upcoming had the pleasure of chatting with Lentzou about how she came to tell this story, casting for the movie and collaborating closely with Kokkali and her experimental approach to cinematic form. We also discussed exploring the impact of debilitating illness, father-daughter relationships and coming-of-age through a patchwork of moments, the role of contrasts and duality in the film (particularly silence and communication, physical proximity and emotional connection), as well as the significance of tarot cards and the human need to find meaning.

Sarah Bradbury

Moon, 66 Questions is released in selected cinemas on 24^th June 2022. The BFI and ICA have screenings including a Q&A with the director on 22^nd and 23^rd June 2022. Read our review of Moon, 66 Questions here.

Watch the trailer for Moon, 66 Questions here: