Wedneday, June 11-----French director Damien Odoul´s film THE STORY OF RICHARD O is included in a special showcase at the Festroia called Seduction Cinema. The director began his career as an actor and alternates between acting and directing. His 2001 film SPECIAL BREATH won a Special Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI International Critics Award at the Venice Film Festival.

"This is not a movie about seduction, nor eroticism. It is just a film about sex, burlesque and poetry. It is very rare to see eroticism or sex mixed with burlesque and poetry and that is the proposition I make to the audience. It is my personal point of view on the subject at this moment.

Richard is in the seduction part of his life. He is not engaged, he meets several girls, but it is all superficial. He does not know who he is. I do not think it is possible to lead a life of sexual experiences one after the other. If at some point you do not make an effort to know a person, you might as well commit suicide.

I do not like to shoot in Paris....I prefer the countryside. This film was the first and the last time I will shoot in Paris and I only did it because it was necessary. During shooting, I tried a different approach and put Richard riding a bicycle through Paris, which was a little unusual. But the effect was lost because, three months after shooting, the mayor of Paris put up bicyclces for people to ride.....and now everyone does it."