Private Project

The Shadow of Venus

The story of a statue of Venus told both in the 1st century and the 21st century. The quest for the past, for art, and for love is driven by passion. But Venus sets a trap: that of incest.

  • Jean-Luc PIACENTINO
    Director
  • Jean-Luc PIACENTINO
    Writer
  • Christine VIALE
    Writer
  • Jean-Luc PIACENTINO
    Producer
  • Cédric SÉNATORE
    Key Cast
  • Mathilde Mosnier
    Key Cast
  • Codrina PRICOPOAIA
    Key Cast
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    L'Ombre de Vénus
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 20 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 15, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    100,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    France
  • Country of Filming:
    France
  • Language:
    French
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • Les Films La Luciole
    Distributor
    Country: France
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Jean-Luc PIACENTINO

Jean-Luc Piacentino is a producer, writer, and director. He lives and works in Paris and Provence.
He taught film for many years at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne and at Lycée Jacques Decour in Paris.

He studied film at the University of Paris 8, where he attended courses by Jean Narboni, Serge Le Péron, Gilles Deleuze... showing interest in all genres while deepening his personal work on the manipulation of time in film narration.

In 1990, he founded the production company Les Films la Luciole.

From 1994 to 2001, he was an active member of the Higher Technical Commission for Image and Sound, within the research group "Production Formats and Media."
After directing several short fiction films, Jean-Luc Piacentino participated in the first European HDTV programming experiments. He sought a "writing" style that would link the narrative structures of cinema to the visual specificities of video.

Between 2008 and 2018, he directed Pour l'Amour de l'Art, a creative documentary in several parts, about a particular form of contemporary artistic practice. It highlights the passion and total commitment of those who sacrifice everything "for the love of art." Attempting to reveal the magic that presides over the creation of an artwork, he developed a personal style, blending documentary and video art; combining an external perspective with a highly sensitive approach.

Since 2012, Jean-Luc Piacentino has embarked on a cycle of feature films where documentary and fiction coexist. He explores the various possible relationships between these two genres, presenting a different narrative form for each film. These projects have in common to bring into play the resurgence of the historical past and the intrusion of reality into fiction.

L’Ombre de Vénus (released in 2017): While following an archaeologist’s explorations in the waters of the Rhône, the film tells the story of a Venus statue from the 1st century.

Moi, Laure de Sade (scheduled for release in 2025): A man and a woman are making a documentary about Petrarch's muse, who was also an ancestor of the Marquis de Sade. Their personal story will evolve under the influence of the thoughts of Petrarch and Sade.

La rose fleurit en mai (in writing): Three women—a mother and her two daughters—gather for a few spring days and are confronted with unspoken family truths. Genealogical research will unleash dialogue and disrupt their destinies.

La chambre Obscure (in writing): A young man's research into one of the pioneers of photography will uncover the mystery of his own past.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Small budget but high expectations.
This feature film, like my previous one, was made with a very small budget. This choice emerged as an immediate opportunity to make a film, and I decided right away to exploit its advantages, necessarily moving away from usual standards. The limitation of financial resources constantly requires finding tricks, other ways to tell and evoke emotions; thus, a different style. These challenges stimulate, in a certain sense, creativity, prompting us to find how to make the most of limited means.
Moreover, shooting with a small crew allows for more direct relationships with each individual, greater flexibility, and the possibility for unexpected moments and the emergence of new ideas, especially creating a beneficial intimacy in working with actors.
I personally take on several tasks, from writing the project to its completion (such as framing, editing, and special effects) with interest, as all aspects of filmmaking fascinate me.
Ultimately, the only factor I do not skimp on is time. Filming and post-production extend over durations that depend on everyone’s availability. This duration has an advantage: it allows for adjustments suggested by stepping back to reflect on the ongoing work.