Kelly + Victor: A love story with a difference

Director Kieran Evans describes his film Kelly + Victor as a “love story”. However, he adds: “Romantic is not the word for what we’re doing. But it’s searching for something.”

A sense of yearning permeates Kelly + Victor, described as a haunting, candid depiction of a young couple embarking on a passionate and transgressive love affair, but it’s also searching for something that remains deliciously elusive. Like an urban Wuthering Heights but with Kelly as Heathcliff, the film is quite frank in its portrayal of sexual dynamics between the titular characters, and Evans is encouraged by audiences’ reactions to these scenes.

“The subject matter is difficult. It’s not a rom-com by Richard Curtis in any shape or form but I think the attitude to it from the audience has been amazing. I thought there’d be a lot more conversations about the darker edges of it but there’s been a lot more about the characters and their circumstances rather than the actual acts of sex. Which is great.”

On the subject of his film, Evans engages enthusiastically and thoroughly. In contrast, the film, which is adapted by Evans from Niall Griffiths’ novel of the same name, is expert in its steadfast refusal to explain the motivations of its protagonists. It is very much up to the viewer to form their own version of events. Kelly + Victor really is one of those films that can engender contrasting views in any two audience members.

“We could spend half an hour on exposition but sometimes films should just be about dropping you into it and then letting it run,” says Evans.

The film ends on quite a surprising note, the sort that can leave one reeling and unable to immediately process what you’ve seen. “As a filmmaker and also as a film lover I like films that not just challenge my thinking and take me to new places and make me think a bit more but I want to be moved sometimes, whether it is to make me laugh or to cry.

“When I read the novel I found myself welling up. Even though it’s a very brutal story I still found myself connected to the characters. Regardless of what they did to each other I found myself really moved. When I was making the film that’s what I was aiming for.”

* Kelly + Victor screens at Triskel Christchurch from Oct 6-9. Kieran Evans will be present at the screening on Tuesday, Oct 8 and will take part in a Q&A afterwards.