Interview with Claire van Beek , director of Daniel. I explore the power of desire; the importance of touch, and the complexity of female sexuality. I wanted to get inside the psyche of a young woman confronted with the force of sexual desire. Joan suddenly finds that her solace and routine is ripped apart and replaced with what she had been trying to hide from β instinct and impulse.
Is her story based on someone you met? What sort of research did you do? It is based on the often hidden or frowned upon elements of female identity, including female rage. In terms of research, I did a lot of lizard research, which is how I stumbled upon the locusts. The locusts have a lifecycle of adult, egg, nymph β which Joan connects to the trilogy of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Locusts are primal and unashamed, biblical, and Joan is almost jealous of how they can shed their skin and become something else.
On top of this, locusts are so visually and aurally fascinating! I ended up breeding locusts in my own shed for nearly a year and got to know them pretty well. Any particular reason you chose the name Daniel? This was an extremely difficult choice. I had a list of over names, and even tested it!
Spoiler β Regardless, the name of the lizard was always going to be Daniel. I loved that it was so normal, so humble. But should it be my title? It offers a lot β it is an anagram of Denial, which is a strong theme of the film. What more could I want?! I also liked that it was a male name β it allows the film to be unexpected, and challenge expectations. Tell us more about the specific selection of animals. How was it shooting with them? The locusts at my house were always eating, escaping, mating, often all at the same time.
They were hilarious, mesmerizing and terrifying. However, when it came to shoot, they were a bit shyer, and it was difficult to catch any laying their eggs into the soil which is a bizarre and captivating thing to watch! I adore the chicken footage β their legs and claws almost lizard-like.
