Roman’s Circuit is the first feature film for director Sebastián Brahm. The film introduces us into the world of neuropsychologist Roberto Roman, who proved as a young man that memories physically migrate within the brain when made conscious. Ten years later he spends a semester as guest Professor at his alma mater in Chile. Coming home means Roman must face parts of his life that perhaps he had chosen to forget…
During TIFF, I had an interesting chat with Brahm and producer Gregorio González. Brahm first explained the concept for the film – “Sometimes you build a story of yourself that highlights some memories and hides others that do not fit that well [with that story]. I thought the moment when one of those hidden memories comes back had cinematic potential and started to think how could that happen and began reading.”
Brahm does not have a background in neuropsychology but did some reading about this… “these type of things have always interest me,” he said. After working on the script, which took about ten year on and off, he got advise from biology professors.
Brahm didn’t want it to be a film that was “pseudo-science nor a cheesy science-fiction film.” He wanted it to be real with something interesting for the audience… “more like a thriller perhaps”. Without giving much away about the film, I’d have to say it has moments where you may not be sure if what you see really happens or if it’s a memory from Roman’s point of view. It’s an interesting concept albeit challenging to follow at times. Brahm knows some people are going to love the film. Yet, others may not but as he said, “it gets people talking, which is part of the reason in making in this film.”
We talked a bit about the cast in the film. Cristián Carvajal plays Roman. Brahm shared that “[Cavajal] is known for doing physical roles. But he works well in this film because he seems restricted and contrived. He suffered a lot during the filming of the lecture scene… there was a lot of scientific information in it.” He comes across well in this role. Overall, Brahm is “very glad with the casting… Alexis Moreno as José Luis is the ‘rogue’ and also Roman’s former rival and friend. He has a lot of potential.” Yet his life did not quite turn out so well.
In terms of González’s involvement in this project, it turns out he’s been friend with Brahm for some time. González has a background in science and academia and when he read the script, he was “fascinated by it.” He agrees with Brahm that “all the characters are well cast. They’re very spot on and it’s also because they had great direction.”
González believes “the structure of the script is great and very happy to be involved in this project. We are confident that we’ll find an audience for this film. It’s a film that may leave you with some questions but that’s good… because it will keep the audience ruminating about it and may want to go back to it. It’s a film that’s very different from what people expect coming from Chile.”
Roman’s Circuit will go on to the Valdivia International Film Festival in Chile. They are looking into a domestic release in Chile also; this is still the very beginning for this film.
Brahm hopes “the audience thinks, reflects about their own memories after seeig this film… it’s a challenge. It’s a game with the audience because I like people to be engaged.”