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<\/p>\nThe North American director Susan Seidelman was interviewed by the program director of the Midnight Sun Film Festival, Milja Mikkola, at the Kitisenranta School on Thursday morning. Seidelman, who made her breakthrough with the film Smithereens in 1982, is one of the pioneering female directors who paved the way for future generations.<\/p>\n
Susan Seidelman was raised in a suburb of Philadelphia, US. The most characteristic element of the environment was the homogeneity of the neighborhood, where racial and economic diversity were largely absent. Even though Seidelman considered her childhood a happy one, the need to somehow rebel against a predetermined future was present from an early age. The idea of re-inventing oneself \u2014 a theme she would continue to explore throughout her later career \u2014 began to take shape.<\/p>\n
Seidelman emphasized the role of luck and coincidence in the significant turning points of her life, such as her shift toward filmmaking. Her fashion studies changed to film studies after she had her first exposure to movies in a course that introduced European classics. In the mid-1970s, Seidelman made her way to New York to study filmmaking. Having also dedicated herself to teaching, Seidelman has witnessed how the role of women has grown over the years, and expanding from directing into the technical aspects of filmmaking as well. Representing a generation of filmmakers who got their start in movie theaters and film festivals, Seidelman also points out the importance of television as a platform where young directors make their entrance.<\/p>\n
Seidelman became a director during a time when women were still largely absent from the field. Since seeing her first films, she has found the feeling of outsiderness captivating, as well as the breaking of patterns and norms. Like society, the film industry also seemed to repeat the same conventions reserved for women. Seidelman recognized the need to create engaging stories with strong female protagonists.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted to tell stories about women who are somewhat outsiders and want to take control of their own lives”, she told.<\/p>\n
The restless character of the protagonist in her first feature film Smithereens (1982) was inspired by Giulietta Masina, who played the leading role in Federico Fellini\u2019s film Nights of Cabiria (1957). The film, which may have lacked financing but benefited from a great deal of dedication, made its way to the Cannes Film Festival \u2014a success that surprised Seidelman as well. The film opened the doors for future projects such as Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Making Mr. Right (1987), and She-Devil (1989).<\/p>\n
As the films she would take with her to a desert island, she chooses, on a \u201chuman level,\u201d Billy Wilder\u2019s The Apartment (1960) and, on a \u201ctechnical level,\u201d Martin Scorsese\u2019s Goodfellas (1990). From her own catalogue, four films are presented at the Midnight Sun Film Festival: Smithereens, Desperately Seeking Susan, Making Mr. Right, and She-Devil.<\/p>\n
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