Breathe

Breathe is a high-concept narrative short film about the friction between individual free will and a hyper-synchronized, silent society where every human movement mimics the fluidity of water. The story unfolds across a three-act "shift": from a monotone "metronome" existence, to a "free-form" awakening, to a final resolution defined by the protagonist's "non-presence." Two symbols anchor it — the feather, a fleeting invitation to freedom, and the apple, the heavy weight of a permanent decision, an "original sin" inside a perfect system. To convey this mute world, we crafted a "Sound of Silence" from rhythmic environmental foley such as synchronized door-slamming and typing, eventually shattered by the protagonist's desperate final attempt to breathe and speak. As director and cinematographer (DP), Paul Marchiset shaped both the storytelling and the visual language of the film, then carried that vision into post-production by handling the color grading. The project was also an exercise in meticulous organization: our team managed the full production chain — collaborative brainstorming, scouting and securing locations such as the Jardin du Luxembourg and the Kley 2 kitchen, and coordinating a large group of extras. Casting was especially rigorous, with roughly 70 candidates evaluated to find the right lead and supporting cast for our choreographed world. To keep a five-day shoot perfectly synchronized, we built a detailed "Prêt À Tourner" (PAT) document that served as our operational bible. That coordination extended into an intensive post phase of editing, sound mixing and color grading, sharpening the contrast between monotone routine and the vivid moments of individual rebellion to deliver a polished final cut.