TALKING TO THE CAMERA

While we’re in the awkward twilight zone between premiering the movie and being able to announce some upcoming exciting news, let’s talk about the fourth wall.

In EXIT, characters speak directly to the camera. It’s something that began in very early versions of the film. In fact, we were once considering making EXIT as a mockumentary, as someone followed the search of believers throughout the city. Once that was abandoned we had to decide if talking straight to the audience was still useful – and admittedly, we didn’t realise quite how divisive some find this technique.

While EXIT’s characters talk to the audience, they still don’t know they’re in a movie – they won’t be telling you to leave the cinema after the credits a la Ferris Bueller or anything. It’s more like how Bergman’s cast in Persona draw you closer by speaking straight at you; more like a thought bubble appearing overhead, giving quick bursts of access to internal lives. And given that EXIT’s dialogue can be a little cryptic and its logic can be a little alienating, it seemed more important than ever to keep it.