Gilles Lellouche’s film, *L’amour ouf*, is described as an ultra-violent romantic musical comedy. Initially inspired by American cinema greats like Scorsese and Tarantino, Lellouche envisioned a shocking combine harvester scene, ultimately excluded from the final script. Co-writer Audrey Diwan explains the focus shifted to the love story of Jackie and Clotaire, emphasizing human perspectives on violence. The film, now in theaters, marks a departure from excessive gore while exploring deeper emotional themes.
L’amour ouf, described as an ultra-violent romantic musical comedy, marks a bold venture into filmmaking by Gilles Lellouche. The initial teaser poster for the film spurred immense interest, indicating that the project would blend powerful emotions with intense violence.
From the project’s inception, it was clear that Gilles Lellouche aimed to create a film that was both emotionally charged and graphic. Drawing inspiration from iconic American filmmakers like Scorsese, Coppola, and Tarantino, Lellouche envisioned a shocking scene featuring a combine harvester. According to Eric Libiot’s book, L’amour ouf, journal intime d’un film, the director desired this horrific moment to resonate with films like Journey to the Edge of Hell and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
However, as noted by Libiot, this infamous scene never made it to the screen. It was ultimately deemed unnecessary and removed from the final script: “Deleted manu militari. Cut to a boot. Well done. And yet…”
Audrey Diwan, one of the film’s co-writers, shared: “Since Gilles has long envisioned the novel, he accumulated images and scenes in his mind that he hoped would find a place in the script. The combine harvester, for instance, was never a part of the novel, but he wanted to include it. The challenge became how to seamlessly integrate it into the narrative while justifying the characters’ actions and emotions.”
Despite its potential, the scene was ultimately dropped because Clotaire appeared too passive and Tony too aggressive. As the script developed, the focus sharpened—only the initial part of the book was retained, detailing Jackie and Clotaire’s childhood and their blossoming love, while their separate family lives were omitted. After exploring various directions, the central theme became clear: the love story between Jackie and Clotaire, with all scenes reflecting this relationship.
Agricultural Jaws
The journey to find the film’s core took considerable time and effort. The early drafts were steeped in the influences of Scorsese and Tarantino, overflowing with blood and gore. Eventually, Gilles recalibrated, stating, “It’s too much. We need to tell the story of violence from a human perspective. The love story will find its rightful place.”
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when the standout moment is uncovered within the creative chaos. The screenplay development process can be thrilling or mundane, depending on various factors. In a recent video for Nouvel Obs, Gilles elaborated, “I challenged my writers with this combine story. It’s a good thing it didn’t make the final cut because there was a section I had to leave out.”
Nouvel ObsIn fact, for a time, I toyed with creating an agricultural-themed horror scene reminiscent of Jaws. There would be a character running through a wheat field, illuminated by the headlights of a pursuing combine harvester, hands bound. One of the producers suggested I was pushing the boundaries of violence. Still, I believe it could have been an unforgettable visual. I may revisit this concept in a future film, possibly titled Combine Harvester!
Could Gilles Lellouche eventually pay homage to the horror genre in a future project?
L’amour ouf is currently showing in theaters.