Interview with Orso Miret: Returning to the Screen with An Alibi

Interview with Orso Miret: Returning to the Screen with An Alibi

After six years of silence, acclaimed Corsican filmmaker Orso Miret returns with An Alibi, a gripping thriller. We sat down with the director to discuss his latest work and creative journey.

Your new film An Alibi marks the end of a six-year hiatus. What led to this break in your filmmaking?
I've proposed many projects for cinema and television, but everything was refused—that's the nature of this profession. I had developed a project about Corsica for public service television that never materialized. Then Compagnie Phares et Balises approached me with this beautiful screenplay, and I jumped at the opportunity.

Unlike your previous works, you didn't write this screenplay. How was the experience of directing someone else's story?
It was truly liberating. Normally I write my own stories, but with An Alibi, I was offered an already written fiction that I could immerse myself in while adapting it for television. I felt like a fish in water on set, working with an exceptional technical team.

Can you tell us about the plot of An Alibi?
It's a thriller that poses a fundamental question: Did Max kill his wife? Friends gather to celebrate a birthday, only to discover Max kneeling beside his murdered wife's body. Convinced of his innocence, they decide to provide him with An Alibi. But the film goes beyond the boundaries of a typical crime drama—it explores friendship, loyalty, and the fragility of testimony, placing us at the heart of human mystery.

How would you describe your directorial approach for this project?
An Alibi freed me in my staging. I wanted movement, so I shot extensively with a steadicam to follow the action intimately. I wanted the camera to be connected to the story by marrying the narrative and visual elements. The screenplay wasn't easy to adapt—five main characters with flashbacks and false leads—while maintaining an objective view of the police investigation.

Your films often explore the darker aspects of humanity. Where does this inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes from the permanent questioning of human nature—its savagery and animality. My island home of Ascu is my place of reflection and writing. It represents real life: the mountain, walks on the paths, hunting, and sharing everyday experiences with village friends.

What's next for Orso Miret?
I'm drawn to the idea of creating a series—I have an original concept in mind, but I'll say no more out of superstition. I'd also like to make a comedy, which would be a departure from my usual creative universe—perhaps set in Corsica. What matters most is the quality of the story we want to tell.

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