- Title: "Redoubtable" - satirical biopic of Jean-Luc Godard in '68 in Cannes
- Date: 21st May 2017
- Summary: CANNES, FRANCE (MAY 21, 2017) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** CAST OF 'REDOUBTABLE' ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHERS/ ACTRESS STACY MARTIN ACTOR LOUIS GARREL (SOUNDBITE) (French) DIRECTOR MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS SAYING: "I think that Jean-Luc Godard never tried to be nice so it would have been absurd to make a consensual and sympathetic character. I think it's of public note that he was a nice gentleman. (SOUNDBITE) (French) ACTOR LOUIS GARREL SAYING: "What do you know...?" (SOUNDBITE) (French) DIRECTOR MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS SAYING: "No, because having done a lot of work and from the testimony that I've seen, but I think that's not his purpose, but effectively yes, it's a mixture of a respectful homage and of irreverence." (SOUNDBITE) (French) DIRECTOR MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS SAYING: "He asked for the script - I sent it to him and, I had no response, I wasn't expecting one either, and when the film was finished, I proposed, if you wanted, to organise a screening, but I had no response but I didn't expect one either."
- Embargoed: 4th June 2017 16:57
- Keywords: France. Cannes 2017 Oscar winner director Michel Hazanavicius of "The Artist" satirical biopic of Jean-Luc Godard "Redoubtable" film in Cannes
- Location: CANNES, FRANCE
- City: CANNES, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Film,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016HS70WD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:A biopic at Cannes about Jean-Luc Godard, the closest thing French cinema has to a living god, might be expected to be worthy and respectful, but "Redoubtable" is anything but - portraying the director as a childish, spiteful bore.
After scooping Oscars in 2012 for his silent movie pastiche "The Artist", Michel Hazanavicius has risked the provoking disciples of Godard, the darling of art-house cinema since New Wave classics such as 1960's "Breathless", who is still making challenging avant-garde films.
The debate over Godard spilled onto the stage at the news conference in Cannes, with the lead actor accusing the director of being "absurd" by suggesting most people "don't give a damn" about the filmmaker.
"Redoubtable" portrays Godard's marriage to Anne Wiazemsky, 16 years his junior, as the student revolt grips Paris in 1968 and the filmmaker rejects his earlier work and that of his contemporaries and plans to make films with a Maoist collective.
In scenes reminiscent of Woody Allen's "Stardust Memories", Godard is fawned over by fans who show little interest in his new direction and ask when he is going to start making funny movies again.
The film moves from the riots of Paris to the beaches of Cannes where Godard succeeds in getting that year's festival stopped in respect for the political crisis, but to the despair of a friend who had hoped to screen a movie there.
Godard is played by 33-year-old Louis Garrel, the son of Philippe Garrel, a director who followed in the footsteps of Godard and other New Wave filmmakers. He admitted being reticent about taking on the role.
"Louis is very concerned of what Godard fans will think but I said 'we don't care'. I want the film to get seen by a lot of people and most people don't give a damn about Godard," Hazanavicius told a news conference in Cannes, to the annoyance of his star seated next to him who interrupted:
"That's absurd! That's like saying 'most people don't give a damn about (16th century Italian painter) Caravaggio'!" - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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