The smile that Valérie Lemercier displayed in front of the cameras hid a great nervousness, Tuesday evening, before the great Montreal premiere ofAline, her film freely inspired by Celine Dion’s career. Once the screening was over, the stage fright gave way to relief at the warm welcome reserved for the feature film. “I am very, very moved,” the filmmaker said on stage.
In interview with Press at Place des Arts, where the event was taking place, the French director and actress, who plays Aline / Céline on screen, said she was feeling extra stress compared to other premieres held in recent months in Europe.
“This is the night I’m most afraid of,” she said in the early evening. More afraid than in Cannes, more than in Paris. It’s normal. I am in his kingdom [à Céline Dion]. It’s about you. Obviously, that I’m afraid. “
Before the screening ofAline, Valérie Lemercier affirmed not to have received any echo from the brothers and sisters of Céline Dion.
However, at the same time the film was presented, part of the Dion clan was sharing their impressions on Julie Snyder’s talk show, broadcast in Noovo. Claudette and Michel Dion, Celine’s sister and brother, sharply criticized the work, noting that it was riddled with falsehoods.
Press tried to reach Valérie Lemercier on this subject after the screening. However, the filmmaker did not wish to comment on the interview with Claudette and Michel Dion, said the film’s communications manager, Annie Tremblay.
Ovation
Although Claudette and Michel Dion did not appreciate Aline, the feature film delighted a crowded Maisonneuve Theater.
The film elicited its fair share of candid laughs. The crowd even laughed during the exchange of the “Votican” (instead of “Vatican”), a scene of about thirty seconds which seems to have scratched the ears of several critics in Quebec.
Spontaneous applause was also heard twice. And once the lights were on, we got a long standing ovation.
Valérie Lemercier indicated that she still hoped that Celine Dion would come forward and give her personal appreciation of the feature film. “But that’s his business,” tempered the filmmaker. She does as she sees fit. I understand very well. The director indicated that René-Charles Angélil, son of Céline Dion and René Angélil, had asked to see the film on Monday.
“Special” evening
Aline paints the portrait of Aline Dieu, a Quebec singer from a modest background who becomes an international superstar. The feature film also tells the love story between the heroine and Guy-Claude, her impresario much older than her, played by Sylvain Marcel.
On the red carpet, the actor also admitted that it was a special night, given the context. “It’s a different matter. Because we are there. This is where Céline lived. “
On the red carpet
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PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Valérie Lemercier and Sylvain Marcel at the Montreal premiere ofAline
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PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Actress Pascale Desrochers
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PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Pascale Desrochers, Antoine Vézina and Geneviève Boivin
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PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Geneviève Boivin and Pascale Desrochers
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PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
Valérie Lemercier, Sylvain Marcel, Danielle Fichaud and Roc LaFortune
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PHOTO CATHERINE LEFEBVRE, SPECIAL COLLABORATION
The teamAline
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Same echo from Danielle Fichaud, who collects good comments for her portrait of Sylvette, mother of Aline, a character obviously inspired by Thérèse Tanguay-Dion. “In Paris, we were excited, but never like here,” said the Quebec actress, who will cross the Atlantic on Friday to shoot with Franck Dubosc.
The tandem seemed to be hopeful thatAline will appeal to Quebecers.
“I am very proud of what we have done,” said Sylvain Marcel.
“I hope they will see that we have worked well… and that we love Céline,” added Danielle Fichaud.
As for Valérie Lemercier, she wanted Celine Dion’s compatriots to perceive her work as “a romance, a fantasy, a love story with many things invented to better tell it”.
From Robert Charlebois to Maripier Morin
In addition to the distribution of the feature film, which includes Antoine Vézina, Roc Lafortune and Pascale Desrochers, many personalities attended the screening of the film. Among them are Louise Portal, Denise Bombardier, Jean-Philippe Dion, Catherine Pogonat, Jean Airoldi and Mariloup Wolfe, as well as Maripier Morin. The latter posed in front of the photographers, but did not grant any interview.
Robert Charlebois also came to take his turn. It is with its success of 1970, Ordinary, that Valérie Lemercier has chosen to conclude her film.
“It could bring the song back to life,” the songwriter observed. The film goes to lots of places where people don’t know the song, like Germany, Portugal… It could give it a second life. “
Success in France
In France, Aline is having an excellent take-off. Valérie Lemercier’s fantasized biographical film took the lead at the box office with 600,000 admissions during its first week of theatrical release. Aline notably dethroned in passing Eternals, American superhero mega-production from Marvel Studios. This is the best launch for Valérie Lemercier since Royal Palace!, in 2005.
Other premieres ofAline are scheduled on Quebec soil this week. Gatineau will have its own on Wednesday, Quebec on Thursday and Sherbrooke on Friday.
The film, which premieres in Quebec on Thursday, is due out in the United States in January.