Posted at 6:00 a.m.
The invitation to co-chair the Cinemania Festival jury with Pascale Bussières came at the right time for Cédric Klapisch, since he had just put the finishing touches to his series Greek salad. “It allows me to move on and spend time in Montreal,” he says.
In Greek saladproduced for Amazon Prime Video, Franco-Quebec actor Aliocha Schneider plays Tom, the couple’s son played by Romain Duris (Xavier) and Kelly Reilly (Wendy).
“He is really in all the scenes of the eight 52-minute episodes,” says Cédric Klapisch. He is a very gifted actor. By choosing him, we knew he was going to bring a lot to the story. He has an ability to understand storytelling which is very strong. Suddenly, it is he who holds the series with the one who plays his sister, Megan Northam. »
PHOTO JÉRÔME PLON, PRIME VIDEO FRANCE, FROM TWITTER
Romain Duris, Megan Northam, Aliocha Schneider and Kelly Reilly
Greek saladwhich Klapisch is co-directing with Agnès Hurstel, will mark the 20th anniversary of The Spanish innwhich gave rise to two sequels, Russian dolls (2005) and Chinese puzzle (2013). “It will be released in May”, announces Cédric Klapisch.
In addition to Romain Duris and Kelly Reilly, Cécile de France, Kevin Bishop and Barnaby Metschurat resume their role. Did Klapisch hesitate at the idea of reviving the characters of his trilogy which made such an impression? “I didn’t know if it was a good idea, but now that I did it, I know it was a good one. It’s really about the notion of comparing two generations. The 20-year-olds of 20 years ago with those of today. »
PHOTO PROVIDED BY SEVILLE
Cécile de France, Romain Duris, Kelly Reilly and Audrey Tautou in a scene from the film Chinese puzzle
“The Age of Possibilities”
Whether in The young perilreleased in 1994, or his last films two me and In bodythe challenges and aspirations of youth have always captivated Cédric Klapisch.
It’s an age where a lot of things are happening. It’s the age of possibilities, and a fictional character is the idea that anything can happen.
Cedric Klapisch
It is also an age when one often has to learn to overcome one’s most difficult obstacles first. This is the case in his drama In bodyreleased last summer in Quebec and which tells how a high-level classical dancer rebuilds her self-esteem by joining a contemporary dance company.
The art of dance has fascinated and seduced Klapisch for a long time, hence his documentary Aurélie Dupont, for a moment (2010) and recordings for the Paris Opera.
Following auditions, Klapisch was given the lead role ofIn body at Marion Barbeau, first dancer at the Paris Opera. The filmmaker is known for giving unknown actors their first chance, but also for working again with the same performers, whether Romain Duris, Karin Viard or Cécile de France.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Portrait of Cédric Klapish, co-president of the Cinemania Festival jury.
I am one of the few directors who have the privilege of discovering new actors in films with a more commercial vocation. When I did Ten percentnobody was very well known, and that was the goal.
Cedric Klapisch
On television, it is indeed to Cédric Klapisch that we owe the production of certain episodes of the formidable first season ofcall my agent (Ten percentin France).
Protect the art of cinema
When we met on Wednesday morning, the day after his arrival, Cédric Klapisch was very happy at the idea of spending the week watching the magic of cinema operate in a dark room.
Cédric Klapisch, a regular and winner of what was the World Film Festival (FFM), has known his jury co-president Pascale Bussières for a long time. “I had met her when I came to present my film Everyone is looking for their cat. We became friends, and every time I come to Montreal, I want to see her. »
In addition to the master class he will give on Saturday, Klapisch likes the idea of taking part in a festival in the service of films that are not his. “It’s what I like in cinema, it’s sharing with others,” he underlines.
Cédric Klapisch’s last visit dates back to 2017 when he came to present the film What binds us, which notably stars Ana Girardot and François Civil. The latter was also from the distribution ofcall my agentjust like Laure Calamy, star of the film Annie Anger premiering this week in Canada at Cinemania.
PHOTO ALAIN ROBERGE, THE PRESS
Cédric Klapish, director and co-president of the Cinemania Festival jury
While in Quebec, we have just announced the death of the gala which rewarded the artisans of the cinema, Cédric Klapisch is worried about the drop in attendance at cinemas in France. He hopes it’s a combination of circumstances related to the pandemic.
We can clearly see that the creation is transferred to the series.
Cedric Klapisch
To see the success ofcall my agent in Quebec, French series may travel better than films. “During the filming of Greek salad in Greece, people knew me more for the series than for The Spanish inn. It’s one of the interests for me as a director to do both […] It is also a way of speaking to young people. »
Cédric Klapisch nevertheless remains completely devoted to defending the art of cinema. He has also launched a platform project called LaCinetek, which presents the lists – and makes available the works – of 50 “bedside films” by distinguished filmmakers from around the world, including Martin Scorsese and Agnès Varda. In its list, Klapisch offers classics by Federico Fellini, Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard.
“Education is important,” he argues.
Cédric Klapisch’s masterclass takes place on Saturday, November 12 at 4:30 p.m. The Cinemania festival runs until November 13.