Cléo & Léo

OVERVIEW

This project centers on Cléo and Léo — two lovers whose relationship thrives in the glow of cinema. They spend their days watching films and slipping into the roles they see on screen, blurring the line between performance and intimacy. I approached the sound design with this duality in mind, crafting a layered atmosphere where film and reality constantly echo each other. As their movie dates stop and the illusions fade, the soundscape subtly shifts — dialogue becomes more exposed, ambient layers thin out, and the silence between them grows heavier. The goal was to sonically mirror their unraveling connection while still holding space for the tenderness of their attempt to navigate love without a script.

Challenges & Approach

For this project, I came in during post-production, working with a film that leans heavily on French dialogue. Despite the language barrier, the emotional rhythm and pacing were clear, which allowed me to focus on supporting the performances with subtle, intentional sound work. Most sound effects were minimal by design — quiet gestures, soft transitions — letting the dialogue breathe. The atmospheres played a crucial role: I used a varied palette of ambient textures to underscore the emotional distance between the characters, filling the silences not with noise, but with the quiet weight of disconnection.