Eliot Hervier Blondel unveils Two Kings, his new medieval short film

An English title that belies a French film school masterpiece. Two Kings, the short film by young director Eliot Hervier Blondel, plunges us into a besieged city where a king and his son attempt to escape the chaos. The film blends heritage, power, and family tensions in a highly stylized visual narrative. The director answers questions from Michel La Rosa and discusses the making of the film.

Eliot Hervier Blondel drew his initial influences from the world of The Lord of the Rings, then later discovered François Truffaut's Day for Night, a film that revealed to him the mechanics of cinema and reinforced his desire to direct. This dual culture, between epic imagination and reflection on the craft, guides his approach and his taste for demanding projects.

Considerable preparatory work

For Two Kings, seven students from the Artfx school (Adrian Delmotte, Eliot Hervier Blondel, Mathieu Keraudran, Agathe Lootens, Maxime Roget, Jonas Lopez Del Castillo, and Ophélie Maurin) worked for over a year to create a believable medieval world. The team researched period costumes, customs, and materials with the support of a historical consultant. Eliot, a specialist in digital sets, contributed to the construction of the environments and the art direction, placing great emphasis on immersion through costumes and sets. This meticulous preparation gave the film a visual ambition rarely seen in a student project.

The cast brings this world to life, with Pascal Aubert as the king and Thomas Debaene as the prince. Alongside them, Michaël Picard, Cyprien Robe, and Nicolas Strohmenger portray the enemy soldiers, lending a strong physical presence to the confrontation scenes.

The lengthy pre-production, the dialogue-driven script, the aesthetic research, and the rigorous filming allowed this short film to be approached as a true period piece. Eliot explains that he wanted to place the viewer at the heart of the action by relying on precise direction and coherent visual choices.

Interview conducted by Michel La Rosa

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