Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas put the laughers on their side with Official competitiona comedy full of self-mockery about the failings of cinema, which will be released in France this Wednesday, June 1.
In this feature film, signed by a duo of Argentine directors, Gaston Duprat and Mariano Cohn, and presented in September at the Venice Film Festival, Penélope Cruz puts on a voluminous red wig to slip into the skin of Lola, a famous director to whom a billionaire – who knows nothing about art but wants to leave his mark on history – decides to commission a film. It was that or build a bridge.
To work with her, two brilliant actors that everything opposes: Félix, Hollywood star, sexy, charismatic and so sure of himself, obviously played by Antonio Banderas. And Ivan, a renowned, literate and deceptively humble stage actor, played by Argentinian actor Oscar Martinez. This trio must prepare the shoot and rehearse together – not easy when you share so little, except an oversized ego.
In the film, the director will submit her actors to more or less eccentric exercises to try to make them overcome their narcissism. Golden Globes will be passed to the mechanical crusher, the two actors, who must play brothers, wrapped in cellophane, and torrents of insults exchanged by two freewheeling performers…
The director and her artistic ambitions also take it for their rank. “For me, it was very liberating, very fun to interpret this wild character, this charming psychopath, at the same time intelligent and completely imbecile, without filter and who doesn’t give a damn about what people think of her. “, explained to Venice Penélope Cruz. Who had the original idea for the film and specifies: “I wouldn’t like to look like him at all!”
Pettiness, snobbery, small arrangements with oneself… “The film basically describes a part of the human being”continued Antonio Banderas. “In this case, they are actors, but it could very well be applied to politics, or to any human activity”.
The scenario was nourished by the experience of the actors: “Our idea was to show the cuisine, the actors’ strategies to move us”explained Gaston Duprat, who has already made several films with his accomplice Mariano Cohn, including the comedy Honorary Citizen (2017).
Official competitionin theaters this Wednesday, June 1.