An Interview with India-Inés Levy

by Susanna Demelas

India-Inés Levy UK-based writer and producer who has been featured at the 2021 BFI Future Festival. Her short film, In The Garden, follows Frederick and Clementine - two young aristocrats - as they talk beneath an oak tree. Set in an idyllic, pastoral setting, the film expands itself past its own beauty as something more sinister begins to reveal itself. In this interview, India-Inés talks to us about the inspiration behind her film, as well as her experiences when creating a film which steps outside the contemporary.

Congratulations on your film, In the Garden, being part of BFI Future Film Festival! What does it mean for you to be part of this festival? 

Thank you! It means a huge amount. To be recognised by an institution that is so integral to UK cinema is really exciting. It’s definitely a signal that I am on the right path. Considering it's the first film I’ve ever made, let alone been part of, I couldn’t be more pleased with the festival-run. It’s an important stamp of approval that will no doubt help me in future projects. 

Still from In The Garden

What inspired you to create this film? 

I studied Art History at the Courtauld Institute so I’ve spent many hours in galleries and seminar rooms looking at paintings. Art history is all about bringing your modern eye and modern set of understandings about the world to something created in another time. It’s this fusion, this coming together of two eras which is exciting and capable of bringing about interesting hybrids. I also love undercutting super feminine rococo eras with a horrific dimension. 

In the Garden is set in 1783. Do you think there are any specific advantages to setting a film in a bygone era, rather than in the modern day? 

I think it’s more stylistic preference over the sense that it is advantageous to set the film in a bygone era. However, constructing alternative worlds in films can sometimes help to  engage with themes or ideas in a more striking way than if they are set in the modern world. I feel every era, including our own, suffers from the same amount of fallibilities as any other age, just perhaps in different ways, so I feel drawing attention to this in my work is important. World-building helps me dismantle potential ideologies or ideas that I hold onto as ‘the truth’ but will soon be replaced by another ‘truth.’ 

Still from In The Garden

Did you encounter any difficulties when creating a film set in this era?

Yes, we had to work around design limitations, without reducing the quality or look of the film. For example, I couldn’t shoot interior shots as this would require sourcing authentic regency sets etc to make it look believable and beautiful. I also spent a while looking for the location, Shottesbrooke Park. I think location is the major issue when it comes to shooting period films. It’s also about attention to detail. Amy Snape, the production designer I worked with, has a phenomenal eye and an extensive knowledge of historical dress which really helps! 

Finally, do you have any upcoming creative plans for 2021 that you’d like to tell us about? 

I have a film called Mrs Ellroy coming out in March. It’s a seven minute short narrated by Bill Nighy and starring Jennifer Martin. It’s a 1950s genre hybrid mystery and has been shot by Ola Mesmer, who is also the incredible cinematographer responsible for In the Garden. In fact it’s basically the same team as I worked with for In the Garden.  I have also written a feature film called Daphne, which I am currently raising funds for to develop a proof of concept. 

Where to find India-Inés

Her site - https://www.indiaineslevy.com/