André Téchiné's film "Hôtel des Amériques" has always fascinated Zoélie Rolland. It sparked her desire to discover Biarritz because it portrays the city in a very particular way. After watching it several times, she realized that a second, underlying plot was unfolding: the city's transformation, which, beyond simply becoming a tourist destination, is becoming a veritable caricature of itself.

The very title, "Hôtel des Amériques", hints at this aspect. Téchiné subtly depicts the changes the city undergoes, repeatedly, through both the shots and the characters' dialogue. Despite her initial reluctance, the director finds herself unable to replicate the original film, as the city has changed considerably since then. So, in a complete reversal of this premise, she becomes Téchiné's nemesis, playing the role of a tourist in the truest sense of the word in this parody of a travel film.

Accompanied by her mother, she has her reenact scenes from the film, explaining them and talking over the shots. She allows herself the freedom to express the scenes in her own words, sometimes making mistakes, sometimes using vulgar language. Her mother takes on the role of a pseudo-actress while she herself gets caught up in the role of director.

Recreating a film becomes a pretext for discussing a relationship with a loved one, with whom she stages a particular situation. The film embraces a kitsch aesthetic that matches that of the city during the festive season.

An edition retraces the entire research for this shoot, identifying the locations, props, and atmosphere of the film. It includes my notes, research, and a comparison between the shots and those of the original film.

Zoélie Rolland | artist