The artist has the main role in the film “Before the flames go out”, in theaters on November 15, which tells of the consequences on a family of police violence leading to the death of a young man.
In parallel (or rather in addition) to her talents as a singer, Camélia Jordana continues to chart her unique path in the cinema. After Emmanuel Mouret, she impresses in the role of Malika, in Before the flames go outthe first feature film by former journalist Mehdi Fikri, which tells the impact on a family of the death of young Karim, after a police arrest.
Franceinfo: Like many actors, what makes you accept a project is first and foremost the script, how did it appeal to you?
Camélia Jordana: The character of Malika reminded me a lot of Antigone, and I don’t know an actress who wouldn’t be extremely keen on the idea of playing this character (laughter). But what appealed to me above all was that in the screenplay by Mehdi Fikri, who wrote and directed it, he chose to deal with very universal subjects. Obviously decorum is police violence, but in the film, we talk about family, we talk about mourning, we talk about rejection and guilt. Universal things, for which we can go through intimacy to also talk about politics. And the long duration of cinema allows this luxury, which was precious for me.
What is also exciting to play, undoubtedly, is that this character evolves, he gains depth. By fighting for the truth, Malika builds and ennobles herself?
When reading the script, I thought of Antigone, but also of Amel Bentounsi, a young woman who, after the death of her brother in the same circumstances, ended up training, studying, and becoming a lawyer herself. And there is a bit of this same journey in Malika, which she acquires over time, she wants to understand, so she learns. Fighting for the memory and dignity of his brother will be his only way to get through this grief. The difference also with other films that have discussed the subject of police violence such as Hate Or Wretchedvery important films, is that here, we have a female point of view, and a female character who is a driving force.
The film also represents the daily life of a family of Arab origin, with diverse profiles, which we still rarely see today in French fiction…
What I find very joyful is to see today that people like Mehdi were able to have enough money to make this film. I find it great that before him, people not necessarily from North African immigration were able to make films about these families, but the new thing is that for several years, it has also been possible via people of Arab origin. That they can tell the stories of our ancestors and our families, with a minimum of financial support from French cinema to be able to do so. I find it magnificent to have all these points of view.
Tell us about this very beautiful scene when the family is in the car, in a calm moment, and sings a song by Idir, the great Algerian artist who died in 2020?
Initially, Mehdi had imagined a Moroccan song, but someone suggested a change, I seem to remember it was Sonia Faidi, who plays Nour, the youngest sister. Certainly with the complicity of Sofiane Zermani, since apart from me, they are the only two other Kabyles on the set. Mehdi wanted a song that we could all know, and so we agreed on Ssendu by Idir. We found ourselves singing it. Already during filming, it was overwhelming, but every time I watch the film again, with the public also during the previews, there has always been a lot of emotion with this scene.
Before the flames go out by Mehdi Fikri, with Camélia Jordana, Sofiane Zermani, Sofian Khammes, Samir Guesmi, Sonia Faidi, Makita Samba. In theaters tomorrow.