Director Biography – Clément Dezelus

La Couleur du Chlore (The Color of Chlorine) is the first fiction film by Clément Dezelus, a young artist, director and art director who went from illustration to moving pictures through fashion films and advertising.

Director Statement

Clément Dezelus is a Paris-based artist who explores video, illustration, photography and art direction. He has worked with brands such as Chanel and Agnès B. In 2023, he designed the on-stage visuals for Kylie Minogue’s “Belle de Nuit” show in Las Vegas and the “Fantasma Circus Erotica” cabaret in Paris. “The Shade of Chlorine”, his first short film, explores the themes of loneliness, social inequality and love through the meeting of two young men : Bilal and Ulysses. The issues these characters face stem from a deep reflection on Clement’s own life and past experiences. He has created his own aesthetics, imbued with his artistic influences, the main one being the painter David Hockney. Blending classicism and modernity into one, Clement directed a radiant first film with an immersive soundtrack. Ryan Daoudi, in his first leading role, co-stars with Nemo Schiffman (“Mortal” on Netflix). The friendship they have built up off the set enables them to deliver a subtle and moving portrayal of their characters. The shoot, which took place at Villa Galaxie (a huge property built into the rock of the Massif de l’Estérel), began in September 2023, but had to be interrupted due to a serious accident; it resumed in November and the film was completed in May 2024.