Firmine Richard is an actress. A passion that started late and by chance, finally, but which quickly offered him very beautiful roles. We think in particular of the roles that allowed her to be discovered by the public, like the one in the film Romuald and Juliet by Coline Serreau in which she played the role of Juliette alongside Daniel Auteuil (1989). Her personality also shines on the screen as a governess in eight women by Francois Ozon. It is also impossible not to mention his recurring role in the series Host family on France 3.
She is, this Wednesday, February 16, on the poster of the film Retirement home by Thomas Gillou. Very well surrounded by Gérard Depardieu, Mylène Demongeot, Marthe Villalonga, Daniel Prévost, Jarry or even Kev Adams.
franceinfo: Was this job for you?
Firmin Richard: We must believe ! I never dreamed of making movies. I tend to say that the cinema came to me since they came to pick me up in a restaurant as part of a “wild” casting, to interpret the heroine of the film by Coline Serreau, whom I did not know , I was not a movie buff at the time.
Today you are starring in the movie Retirement home. This is the story of Milan, which finds itself having to do hours of community service in a retirement home. The residents know why he’s coming, so they’re going to give him hell, but end up adopting him. What is interesting is the importance of working together across generations.
These people are there. He has a holy horror of old people for the wrong reasons since he hasn’t known any. He arrives there and the others don’t like him either, don’t know him. Eventually, they come to find each other. Every person in this house has something to contribute. The values that he did not have from his parents, he receives from these people. He realizes that they are the same, orphans on both sides. It is a comedy.
What does this film represent for you? It says a lot about life.
It’s a comedy where many messages are distilled, but in a good mood.
“Mixing the generations can only be good for everyone, young, small and old.”
Firmine Richardat franceinfo
Kev Adams really did it with his heart since he lived with his grandparents, and he saw the difference between him and his 15-year-old little brother. He was also very touched by everything that happened with the confinement, which further accentuated the isolation of the elderly. The message he wanted to convey is that there be more links between the generations.
It’s a look at the fact that we feed a lot on others. You learn more about yourself. Did the cinema, precisely, allow you to learn a little more about yourself?
It must be said that the cinema made me more interesting than I was before. He taught me a lot of things like to be, surely, tolerant, patient. Because it’s true that once you come out of anonymity, you’re accosted by people, it’s not easy. At the same time, you have to be available to people. It was something that I learned on the job when I found myself, indeed, confronted with an audience. I had the chance to make a film in which I had a sympathetic role, so people came to me with a certain sympathy and I am very grateful to them. I would say that the cinema made me better.
When you interpreted Juliette, there was an incredible reception. How did you experience this meteoric rise?
As you just said, I arrived in the world of cinema very late, so I already had lead in my head. It is certain that I lived a very beautiful thing, but I had my feet on the ground and once out of a plateau, you become again Mrs Everybody. I resumed my subway quietly. Besides, I was quite surprised when someone said to me: “What are you doing in the subway ?”
This success has definitely sent you on this path. The criticism, the environment have reinforced the idea that you were made for this profession. Behind, there was this role of governess in this film signed by François Ozon, eight womenwhich put you even more in the spotlight.
Yes. He introduced me to young French actresses, apart from Danielle Darrieux. I found myself with the most prominent young people in cinema and today, I find myself with the most famous seniors in cinema with Retirement home. I really got lucky. Working with Gérard Depardieu… They are monsters of the cinema that I had never hoped to meet one day. To find myself with Gérard Depardieu, in this film, is a joy.