“I would have seen myself living in a jumping film” | EUROtoday

Yes, after I noticed “La Vita è Bella” by Benigni [La vie est belle, NDLR]. It was solely the Italians to dare to method a topic as severe because the Shoah by mixing a type of humor. And it’s an absolute success. I noticed it for the primary time in French, then the second in authentic model. I promised to carry my tears, however I didn’t succeed. The story of this little boy to whom his father, in order to not traumatize him, says that he lives in a recreation and might win a tank … There is just the artistic insanity of Benigni who may give it some thought.

Who was your idol if you had been a youngster?

It was Carlos Monzón, an Argentinian boxer, who had the excellence of boxing by backing up. He was of nice class, feline, and world champion many occasions. Little boy, I watched all his fights on tv. I bear in mind particularly considered one of them who had opposed it to Jean-Claude Bouttier, French champion, who had additionally misplaced after being valiantly overwhelmed. You ought to know that I didn’t, on the time, have nice entry to tradition. In my universe – outdoors the varsity that opened doorways to me – there have been no theater, cinema, nor live performance corridor. My dad and mom weren’t bathed in tradition, by no means.

Do you bear in mind the primary disc to procure?

Very, excellent. It was the final 33 laps of Jacques Brel. The one with the clouds on a background of blue sky and which evoked the Marquesas. It was my first report. I used to be 16 or 17 years outdated …

Today, which singer or musician accompanies you every day?

This is a tough query as a result of I hearken to it loads. But I can say that there are in my pantheon all of the very nice of French music: Jacques Brel, whom I’ve simply quoted, Serge Reggiani, the girl in black [Barbara]… They are all nice authors, and I hearken to them typically. They additionally accompanied me, by automotive, over the a whole lot of hundreds of kilometers that I made to journey France, from a courtyard of one other. And they by no means left me.

What current work (all types mixed) charms you?

Since we’re within the theme of French music, I’ll quote Santa. I discover that it is rather impressed, that she has a whole lot of expertise and that she has a really lovely voice. I additionally actually like what Eddy de Pretto does, there’s a whole lot of poetry in his texts. These are two artists who contact me.

Is there a voice that upsets you?

Obviously, it’s the voice of my associate, Isabelle Boulay, that I discover completely elegant. Some individuals converse of a “chocolate”, or scorching voice – that additionally it is on account of a selected provision, and from beginning, of its vocal cords. She additionally has the particularity of having the ability to sing every little thing (rock, nation, Italian music, French music …) So, clearly, we will say that I’m not probably the most goal, however it isn’t fairly true as a result of I knew Isabelle’s voice earlier than assembly her and that she was already touching me.

Another voice upsets me, an important Italian voice. She died at present, it is Mia Martini. A voice that pierces you …

What is your favourite poem?

There is one which I significantly like, it’s “this is how men live” by Louis Aragon, who recounts the interval, throughout the First World War, the place he waits to be demobilized, and frequents brothels. He says a number of the paradoxes of our humanity. The poem could be very, very lovely. And what Léo Ferré did, who put it in music, makes it much more lovely.

What is the work (all types mixed) that touches you probably the most?

Starry night time by Van Gogh. Several work bear this title and the one which touches me probably the most is the one that’s exhibited on the Musée d’Orsay, in Paris. When I noticed this canvas for the primary time, I had an actual shock. It is, nevertheless, quite simple. But the immensity of his sky obliges introspection, humility, and pushes hope. I watch his stars hoping that they spin. Because capturing stars can help you make a want, it appears …

What do you hearken to, learn or take a look at to decompress?

I sit in an armchair and hearken to French music, or I learn. I learn, proper now, With fairies by Sylvain Tesson and I discover this novel elegant, of absolute poetry. Tesson is a really, very, very lovely feather.

What work, unanimously appreciated, do you hate?

The desk The cry From Edvard Munch, as a result of I am unable to discover it helpful. And, in stride, let’s go, the movie And God … created the lady From Roger Vadim, which I discover of an absolute platitude.

Is Brigitte Bardot sufficient to persuade you?

Let’s say that Bardot has a humanity that isn’t mine …

What do you imply ?

I bear in mind Bernard Pivot who requested her sooner or later the query of whether or not, within the occasion of a hearth in a home, she would save a person or a canine. And his hesitation disgusted me. But simply because there’s Brigitte Bardot that I do not just like the movie. I think about a masterpiece In case of misfortuneby which she performs with Gabin.

What work would you suggest to can help you perceive who you might be?

I might say Two males within the metropolis by José Giovanni or Twelve indignant males from Sidney Lumet. These movies cope with injustice for the primary and justice for the second. All of this was my universe for a really very long time, nearly forty years. And, in these tales, there’s every little thing: the issue for a person to reintegrate himself, the issue for others to overlook as soon as his sentence was served, and doubt, consubstantial with justice. These are topics that have an effect on me deeply.

If you had been to stay on this planet of a movie or a guide, what would it not be?

Without the shadow of hesitation, in that of Claude Sautet. I noticed his movies an incalculable variety of occasions. There are human beings as they’re, with their qualities and their faults. You must see the anger of Michel Piccoli across the leg, in Vincent, François, Paul … and the others. It is likely one of the most lovely anger in French cinema! And then the actors: Gérard Depardieu, Serge Reggiani, Yves Montand, Michel Piccoli, Romy Schneider, Sami Frey… all unbelievable. It can be a overwhelming period, no less than partially. A element: there’s not a scene in leaping cinema the place you don’t smoke like a firefighter! Then there are the Alfa Romeo of the time, which I’m not insensitive. A universe by which I might have seen myself dwelling …

Is there an artist, useless or alive, that you’d have preferred to know intimately?

Yes, I nearly met him, it is Charles Aznavour. I had him sooner or later on the cellphone and he instructed me that he was recommending my guide to all of him. I used to be very honored, even with angels, as a result of Aznavour can be within the pantheon of my favourite artists! We had been agreed to satisfy, however this assembly by no means happened. Each time, there was an obligation on its facet or mine. And on 4 occasions we now have postponed our appointment. Not to satisfy this nice gentleman was for me a really, very huge remorse, and that’s all the time.

You performed in three movies (underneath the route of Claude Lelouch, Antoine Raimbault and Claire Denis). Would you prefer to renew the train?

To uncover



The kangaroo of the day

It all will depend on the topic, the script, the director, however sure, after all! These are experiences that I actually preferred. As I just like the theater, which creates a direct relationship with the general public, a direct return: it goes or it doesn’t go, and we ship it again to you! It was, furthermore, in historical Greece, one of many first democratic expressions. I say it as a result of some grumpy have thought-about unworthy that I do that one on stage. But happening stage shouldn’t be incompatible with having been minister. It was within the agora that the primary political speeches had been held. Let’s say that I went from the agora to the Marigny theater …

Pantheon: Each Saturday, a character reveals the works which have fed its cultural creativeness.