In the summer of 2024, as the world turned its attention to Paris for the Olympic Games, filmmaker and actress Valentine Cadic saw an opportunity where others might have seen only chaos. While many Parisians fled the city to escape the crowds and commotion, Cadic stayed behind, camera in hand, ready to capture the energy of the moment. With a small crew and a penchant for blending fiction with reality, she dove headfirst into the whirlwind of the Olympics to create her film, That Summer in Paris. The movie, which will screen at the 2024 Berlin Film Festival as part of the Perspectives section, is a testament to Cadic’s resourcefulness and her ability to turn the unpredictability of real-life events into cinematic magic.
Cadic’s approach to filmmaking is deeply rooted in her background in documentary work. Like Justine Triet’s Age of Panic, which also wove fiction into the fabric of real events, That Summer in Paris uses the bustling backdrop of the Olympics to tell a more intimate story. The film follows a lovesick young woman navigating her complicated relationship with her estranged family amidst the excitement of the games. For Cadic, the Olympics weren’t just a spectacle—they were a catalyst for storytelling. “I like to mix make-believe with real life,” she explains. “[The Olympics] push you to action. When you’re making a low-budget film, it’s easy to get stuck in delays or lose sight of your vision, but having a fixed timeline and framework kept us motivated and energetic.”
The production of That Summer in Paris was anything but conventional. Cadic and her team embraced the unpredictability of the Olympics, crafting multiple versions of scenes to account for the spontaneity of live sports and the ever-changing atmosphere of the city. They blended seamlessly into the crowds, hiding in plain sight among the throngs of camera crews and spectators. At one point, an extra in the film was even mistaken for an Olympic staffer by a group of attendees—so convincing were the costumes and the crew’s immersion in the event. “That’s when we knew our costumes were authentic,” Cadic laughs. “It was one of those moments where the line between reality and fiction completely disappeared.”
One of the most remarkable aspects of That Summer in Paris is its integration of real-life Olympic events. Cadic even enlisted the help of French swimmer Beryl Gastaldello, who not only appeared in the film but also provided footage from inside the athletes’ village. Gastaldello’s 100-meter freestyle race became a pivotal moment in the story, adding an element of authenticity that would have been impossible to replicate. Yet, even with such high-stakes moments, the production wasn’t without its surreal challenges. When the crew returned to shoot additional scenes after the games, they found themselves in an eerily empty pool, cheering Gastaldello on alongside a handful of extras. “We shouted along with the team to encourage her,” Cadic recalls. “It was a strange but magical experience.”
For Cadic, the unique circumstances of the Olympics offered more than just a backdrop for her film—they provided a rare opportunity to capture the city in a state of flux. At the height of the games, Paris was a place of stark contrasts: some areas pulsed with energy and excitement, while others were eerily quiet, emptied of the locals who had fled the chaos. “Paris was a very strange place throughout the Olympics,” Cadic reflects. “It felt like a still parenthesis in time, a moment where you could observe the city and its people in a way that’s usually impossible. It was a gift, really—a chance to see what’s around you and stay open to whatever might happen.”
Looking ahead, Cadic plans to continue embracing the unpredictability of real-life events in her work. “I love working with constraints,” she says. “In documentaries, you have to adapt constantly to the setting and the unexpected, and that’s where the best moments come from. Of course, it requires a team that’s ready to follow your lead and integrate elements that aren’t pure fiction.” For Cadic, the key to creating compelling stories lies in the ability to seize opportunities as they arise—whether that means chasing the chaos of the Olympics or finding beauty in the quiet moments in between. Her journey with That Summer in Paris is a testament to the power of creativity under pressure and the magic that can happen when life and fiction collide.
