In the Vosges, Benoît Poelvoorde, Audrey Lamy and Elsa Zylberstein are filming “The Good Star” by Pascal Elbé

A choice cast for a troubled period in our history. This film, which mixes drama and comedy, takes place during the German Occupation.

Two months of filming in the Vosges. The film crew The lucky star has been packing since the beginning of June. The scenes follow one another under the direction of actor Pascal Elbé, who here signs his fourth feature film as director.

The film takes us back to 1940 during World War II. France is split in two: the north is occupied by the Germans, the south is not yet.

Jean Chevalin, played by Benoît Poelvoorde, who is not very courageous, deserted the army. Since then his family has lived in poverty. Chevalin has only one idea in mind: to reach the free zone for better days. He “will pretend to be a Jew thinking that it will bring him luck”, says Pascal Elbé. This identity theft to benefit from the help of smugglers is not, given the context, going to happen as Chevalin hoped.

With its misunderstandings and revelations, the film oscillates between drama and comedy, scenes of anguish facing the Germans and scenes of humor in lighter moments. “If he’s scared, I’ll act scared,” explains Benoît Poelvoorde when talking about his character. “He’s a crook, but he’s not smart. So I’m playing him, indeed, first degree”, adds the actor.

With this comedy, Pascal Elbé addresses the issue of stereotypes concerning the Jewish community. The character played by Benoît Poelvoorde chooses to wear the yellow cross “because a lot of people think they [les juifs] get by all the time, that they are well off”, explains the director. Prejudices which will quickly be deconstructed in Chevalin’s eyes over the course of his misadventures as a Jew.

Filming which began in Plombières-les-Bains and Fontenoy-le-Château will continue in other towns in the Vosges until July 26. An ideal setting for a trip back in time. “When we shoot a period film, we are very hampered by urban planning, modernity. Here, we cross villages and we have the impression that it has remained intact, in its original state. I wanted to move my film in two or three different places, in fact, we did everything here.” rejoices Pascal Elbé. The lucky star should be on the big screen sometime in 2025.