Damien Odoul’s THEO AND THE METAMORPHOSIS is a valuable work and creation of art.
Damien Odoul’s brave imagining of what it is like to be born with Downs Syndrome, is told through the eyes of Down’s Syndrome lead actor, Theo Kermel. Touching also on issues of freedom versus safety, and the further reaches of imagination versus the mundane, ‘Theo and the Metamorphosis’ is a highly valuable and individual film. It sensitively portrays the relationship between a very skilled auteur film maker and his subject, and it is also a must see for anyone who does have Down’s Syndrome, or who knows, or is a relative of someone with Down’s Syndrome.
Shot over a long schedule in modern terms, in the southern French countryside, in the Summer of 2019, ‘Theo and the Metamorphosis,’ fell prey to problems in post due to the covid pandemic. This elongated the editing and finishing, but in this case, the film has benefitted, as this a true mosaic of a film, a heartfelt search through painstaking editing and thoughtful writing. Originally, Odour planned the film to be almost silent but relented, somewhat in part it seems, to the clear talents of his lead actor, Theo Kermel. The life of any Down’s Syndrome person can be more silent than most, as people generally still do not understand the effects this wide-ranging condition can have. However, this is not an expose to educate us, but more of an exploration about how the central character Theo, reconciles his feelings about a world of humans who are different from him. Yet he shares the same urges, pains and desires as the rest of us. How does Theo see women? How does he relate to his Father?
The results of these answers are woven into a beautiful film. Much of it was also shot by Odoul, as well as footage from talented nature cinematographer Sylvain Rodriguez, then pieced together in the edit like a mosaic, to detail and explore a few days in Theo’s life. Told to us by Theo in voice over, the film reads like an internal diary, and gives a bird’s eye view on Theo. Theo is a character born of reflection upon actor Theo’s real feelings and challenges, and he is a performer with great sensitivity. At times the film is childish, at times funny and fantastical, at times poignant, gory, and scary all at once. It is an ode to Theo’s clear love of nature and animals, but also a faithful look at the frustration and wild imaginings of someone whose perception of a world defined by those who are not like him.
Allowed to wash over the viewer, ‘Theo and the Metamorphosis’ is a valuable work and creation of art. It is a shame that current trends have made art house films much harder to fund, but with the right distribution, which this film has, it is hoped creators like Damien Odoul will still make films that are a welcome and much needed story for our times, and our species.
Written by fellow writer/director Jane A Foster, who believes in championing independent films of all types and style and budgets.
