After Fall, Winter (2011/2012)

Call it a comedy for its intellectual clarity and enchantments; call it a tragedy for its harrowing symmetries and fateful inevitability. Schaeffer captures with heartbreaking precision the fragile relationship of love and trust in a world where only "pain and death never lie".

At mid-career, Eric Schaeffer continues to draw for inspiration on his semi-autobiographical search for love. But, AFTER FALL, WINTER raises the stakes and Schaeffer has created a mature and resonant new film. Winner of 11 awards at the 2011 Wild Rose Independent Film Festival and a Best Actor Award at this year's Boston International Film Festival, AFTER FALL, WINTER is the second in a planned Quartet of films, each set 15 years apart, which chronicle the love and sex life of novelist, Michael Shiver. Love, that fell unrequited in FALL (MGM, 1997), has deepened into a quest for greater intimacy and lasting love in AFTER FALL, WINTER.

After the major success of his first novel, MICHAEL SHIVER (Eric Schaeffer) faces the fact that he just may be a one-book wonder. His literary agent has nothing for him but rejections from a long list of publishers. Facing insurmountable debt, full of self-loathing, and deeply lonely, Michael decides to escape to Paris at the invitation of an old friend, CHARLES (Christian Mulot), who offers him a room of his own in the Montmartre and time to gain a fresh perspective.

In Zoran Veljkovic's exquisite cinematography, Paris, all burnished lights and intimate streets, is both a welcoming and dangerous world where nothing is completely what it appears to be. And when Michael feels the despair of his diminished life he visits an underworld of domination and abuse.

Not long after his arrival Michael meets SOPHIE (the luminous French actress, Lizzie Brochere -- THE WEDDING SONG; SLEEPLESS NIGHT) in a neighborhood shop. There is instant chemistry notwithstanding his "American" directness. Sophie is evasive and seems to have no time for love. Drawn to her intelligence and self assurance Michael will not take no for an answer. The truth is, both Michael and Sophie desperately want intimacy and ache for the love story that will change their lives. But both have been hurt by attachment and hide behind their wit and repartee.

Sophie works as a hospice nurse and is helping 13 year-old ANAIS (in a remarkable performance by Marie Luneau) to face her cancer by providing friendship and perhaps the only real joy Ana?s has known in her short life. As Sophie opens this part of her life to Michael, they begin to fall deeply in love and candidly reveal to each other what they need and what they will not tolerate in a relationship--honesty is paramount. But Sophie like Michael has a secret. She moonlights as an A-list dominatrix. Because she has deeply ambivalent feelings about her job she chooses not tell Michael. Nevertheless, she eventually asks him if he has interest in BDSM--he says, no. Shame and fear of not being understood and accepted keep them both silent. As they think seriously about spending their lives together, Sophie's secret and Michael's lie tragically collide and their fragile trust is broken.

Director's Statement

In a world where we are growing more and more fractured, anything that can unite us I believe is of immense value. That's why I make movies. Hopefully in some small way, a person sitting in the dark for two hours watching a film they can relate to offers them a chance to feel less alone and more a part of humanity.

In my films I try to portray the dark, funny and ugly along with the beautiful underbelly we all have; whether we admit it or not, and in doing so, speak to those who embrace all parts of themselves and therefore all parts of others without judgment or condemnation.

Like Rohmer and Kieslowski who made multiple fictional films with an overall theme connecting them, After Fall, Winter will be the second installment in a four part series of films I will make in my lifetime spanning 45 years. Symbolically relating to each of the four seasons, each set fifteen years apart; the films are thematically bound by stories of love, unrequited in both Fall and After Fall, Winter. Who knows for Spring and Summer?! Unlike the two aforementioned filmmakers, my films will all follow the same protagonist in each film, Michael Shiver.

I will write, direct, produce and play the lead male character, Michael Shiver, in each and represent the different stages of this character's life in his relationship to love.

Though the second of the four films, After Fall, Winter is a separate story and stands entirely on its own. Those who never saw Fall will not feel left out and there is nothing they need to have known from Fall in order to have a complete experience watching After Fall, Winter.

-- Eric Schaeffer, Filmmaker

Biographies

Eric Schaeffer (Writer/Director/Producer/Michael)

Eric Schaeffer was born and raised in New York City's Upper West Side where he still lives and works today. A creative person and performer from an early age, Schaeffer knew he wanted to do something big, from art to music; he would try various things to express his original point of view.

As a student in Drama at Bard College, Schaeffer got more and more involved with writing, scripting countless plays and short films, especially inspired by the works of Arthur Penn, one of his teachers at Bard. At that time, Eric would also experiment with Super 8 cameras and shoot snippets of his life and thoughts. He realized writing and filmmaking would be his medium of choice to express himself as an artist.

After college, Schaeffer moved back to his native New York City, determined to establish himself in the local independent scene. Prolific, yet broke, Schaeffer had to take on the challenge to drive a New York cab to finance his many projects. Always fascinated by the city, he knew it well and enjoyed the flexibility the job offered him. Also, his runs lead him to hear countless colorful New York stories that would later inspire Schaeffer for his urbanite characters. For instance, his first feature film, My Life's in Turnaround, a comedy about two friends who decide to change their life by making an indie film, was a hilarious rendition of Schaeffer daily struggles as a taxi-driving filmmaker.

During that time, he wrote two stage plays, a novel, twenty screenplays and various other works. His favorite recollection from that period was when Sarah Jessica Parker, already a well known actress, hopped in his cab and was convinced by Eric's energy and determination to star as the female lead in his second film. If Lucy Fell is a heartwarming and fresh romantic comedy that follows two friends (Schaeffer and Parker) as they make a death pact; if they do not find true love before they're 30 they would have to kill themselves. The hit comedy, produced by Tristar Pictures and co-starring Ben Stiller and Elle MacPherson, was Schaeffer's big break in the film world.

Continually drawing inspiration from his life and surroundings, Schaeffer went further with his exploration of love and sexuality with his two following films, Fall and Wirey Spindell. He is dedicated to picture characters that are realistic, honest. He insists on creating flawed and conflicted characters, in reaction to the safe representations traditionally found in mainstream cinema.

Another example can be found in his 2001 production, Never Again, where Schaeffer directed Jill Clayburg and Jeffrey Tambor as two fifty-something individuals who gave up on love. The film is a true-to-life tale of friendship, love and life about mature characters, a rare occurrence in contemporary film. Also in Mind the Gap and They're Out Of The Business, two quirky comedies about edgy characters, Schaeffer continues to voice his original point of view and unique approach that makes him a truly distinctive artist.

Eric 's newest film After Fall, Winter is a dark, edgy romantic drama set in Paris. The film will open theatrically in NYC on January 27th, 2012 and on many digital platforms January 31st, 2012. This daring story transcending issues of power, gender dynamics, trust and sexuality is a sequel to Fall and a statement film, reflecting Schaeffer's ideas on independent filmmaking, sex and honesty in relationships.

His body of work is also very strong in television, a medium that allows a different style of storytelling and strongly contributed to Schaeffer's incomparable cult following. From scripted narratives (Starved) to a personal reality show (I Can't Believe I'm Still Single: From Portland to Portland ME), television shows are a big part of Schaeffer's repertoire and an innovative window for him to explore his personal philosophy on life.

Schaeffer is currently working on a new TV show titled Lifecoach, in which he will play a slightly different version of himself as he helps friends figure out their lives. The show is currently in the writing phase and will be produced by Schaeffer for Lionsgate.

Lizzie Brochere (Sophie)

Lizzie Brochere is a French film, television and theater actress known for her sensuous screen presence in French and international art house cinema.

Lizzie Brochere was born in Paris, France in 1985. Beginning her acting career at the age of 10 in the 1995 television movie Parents a mi-temps, Brochere would go on to play a string of small roles in television movies and series, achieving child-stardom with her strong performances on the small screen.

In 2001, the then 16-year-old Brochere made her leap to the big screen as Jeanne in Hugo Santiago's The Wolf of the West Coast. The film premiered at the Montreal Film Festival and audiences noted her incredible presence on screen.

As her career took off, Brochere was not afraid to take on difficult roles, for example in the controversial film One Two Another, directed by Jean-Marc Barr and Pascal Arnold. She played a sensual Lucie, a complex character with a twisted vision of relationships and a talent for creating conflicts and inspiring jealousy. Her uncompromising performance led her to be nominated as "Best Newcomer" in the French Cesars.

In 2007, she was awarded "Best Newcomer" at the Luchon Film Festival for her lead role in the comedy Bac+70 for her noted performance with Pierre Mondy, who was playing her grandfather. In 2008, Brochere played the leading role in Karin Albou's film The Wedding Song, as Myriam, a Jewish Tunisian girl in WW2 Tunisia for wich she was awarded "Best Actress" at the St Jean de Luz Film Festival.

From 2004 to 2009, Lizzie was also a recurring character in several French TV shows, including Alex Santana, Negociateur, R.I.S Police Scientifique and Les Bleus where she portrayed series regular Elina, a free spirited young Russian cop.

In 2010, she played in a second film directed by Jean-Marc Barr and Pascal Arnold, Translation, a sexy psychological thriller. She also appeared in the action movie Sleepless Night, directed by Frederic Jardin, where she co-starred with famous French actors Tomer Sisley (The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch) and Joey Starr (Polisse).

In 2011, when Eric Schaeffer was casting for the part of Sophie for his upcoming drama After Fall, Winter, he could not find a French actress that would fit the complex character. Afraid that no one would give justice to the role, Schaeffer was standing outside his casting office in Paris when he was stunned by the sight of Lizzie in a cafe nearby. Thinking she was about to audition for the part, Schaeffer waited a while for her to show only to realize she was the daughter of his own casting assistant! He immediately offered her the part. Her personality and presence on screen made sense for the character and she strongly connected with the daring screenplay.

Select Press Coverage

"Moving without being sappy, romantic without being sentimental and shocking without feeling forced, After Fall, Winter is a stunningly well made film, based on two astonishing performances with real chemistry. But this is a romance with a dark sting in its tale and its tragic ending, a delightfully perverse take on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, is one of the most disturbing and moving film you will see this year."

-- Dean Bowman Raindance Festival

"What I enjoy most about After Fall, Winter -- well, besides Lizzie Brochere whom I have loved ever since her amazing performance in Karin Albou's The Wedding Song (2009) -- is the way that Schaeffer toys with conventional gender roles." I think After Fall, Winter clearly communicates a message that needs to be pounded repeatedly through many puritanical Americans' thick skulls."

-- Don Simpson Smells Like Screen Spirit

"After Fall, Winter will stay with you long after the credits roll, from the odd sweetness of his Parisian romance to the touching side story of dying girl in a hospital -- and, oh yeah, all that BDSM stuff too."

-- James Verniere, Boston Herald

"After Fall, Winter illuminates the lives of two people whom carry a myriad of emotional baggage and yet share their love romantically, passionately, innocently and at times brutally -- especially when having or discussing sex. The ending is a cinematic experience that is both haunting and unnerving leaving great admiration for Schaeffer's wonderful script and direction Raw, vivid and exceptionally candid -- this is cinema at its best."

-- Vaskar Szen Kayastha CultHub

"A remarkably honest and sometimes rather grim look at the dark side of love and sex, After Fall, Winter demonstrates extremely bold filmmaking, exploring huge issues of pain and death without wallowing in them. Along the way, Schaeffer knowingly highlights the differences between American and European culture, both everyday things and much bigger ideas about loneliness and purpose in life. [...] The film is surprisingly unnerving and packed with gorgeous moments that make us stop and look at ourselves"

-- Rich Cline Shadows on the Wall