Exclusive interview with Hugo Teugels: Cassandra Venice

Can you tell us how you developed the character of Cassandra Venice and what she represents to you?

"Cassandra Venice is a complex character who embodies the dualities explored in the film—hope and despair, awareness and denial. She’s named after the mythological Cassandra, cursed to utter true prophecies that no one believed. This idea of knowing the truth but being powerless to change it is central to her character. She represents the inner voice that warns us of impending disaster, yet often goes unheard. In many ways, she personifies our collective consciousness, struggling to reconcile what we know with what we choose to ignore".

How did your personal experiences during your travels in Venice influence the plot and atmosphere of the film?

"My travels in Venice deeply influenced both the plot and the atmosphere of the film. Walking through its narrow streets, crossing its bridges, and feeling the weight of history all around me sparked ideas for the film’s setting and tone. Venice’s moodiness, its interplay of light and shadow, and its simultaneous existence in the present and the past all contributed to the film’s suspenseful and introspective atmosphere. The city itself became a character, shaping the narrative and adding layers of meaning to the story".

Can you explain the symbolism behind the "golden spoon" and how this object catalyzes the events of the story?

"The golden spoon symbolizes the idea that we were born into a privileged world, with a favorable climate and many advantages—like having a “golden spoon” in our mouths. However, we’ve overindulged, and now that golden spoon serves as an alarm, a “call to attention” before it’s too late. The reflection in a spoon, where our image appears upside down, also serves as a metaphor for the duality of our inner selves—the ‘other me’ within our consciousness, urging us to look deeper and confront the reality of our situation".

What challenges did you face while filming in Venice, especially considering the city as a kind of "character" in the film?

"Filming in Venice presented unique challenges, particularly due to the geography and narrow streets. Even with a map in hand, it’s easy to lose your way. The city’s beauty comes with unpredictability—the light changes quickly, and water levels can rise suddenly. However, these challenges also contributed to the film's authenticity and atmosphere. As a character, Venice is both breathtaking and ominous, and capturing that duality was essential to the story. The city’s influence is palpable in every scene, adding layers of meaning and atmosphere impossible to replicate elsewhere. I recall one evening when it rained so heavily that we had to take shelter, and because our phones were wet, Google Maps didn’t work properly, leaving us lost in the rain. It’s a shame we didn’t capture that on film. We then had to take extra care to keep our existing footage dry and find our way out".

Considering your experience in making short films, what key lessons did you bring into the creation of "Cassandra Venice"?

"I am not a traditional filmmaker, so I won’t offer generalities, but I will say that every element of the film—from visuals to sound design—contributes to the overall story. I also learned the value of collaboration, especially when working with a smaller team. I can work in a very structured way, but when it comes to imagination, I sometimes ask for things that are difficult to explain. Inspiring improvisation often works, drawing on the 100 ideas stored somewhere in my head".

Fortunately, Polli was willing to embrace this approach. If I asked her to drink from an imaginary cup, and she had questioned ‘why’, it could have been a difficult journey. When writing your own script, there’s no rule against adapting it to the circumstances that arise. If there’s a full moon and obstacles, you can’t wait until next month—you just adjust the scene. It’s a short film, not a blockbuster. Creativity comes first.

Editing the film myself also allowed me to make changes, which ultimately extended the project by a year but added several layers to the story. There’s so much in it that it became challenging to condense into a short film without sacrificing many cinematographic gems, originally intended for a 90-minute feature".