Stanford French Film Festival

Stanford French Film Festival



Quelques questions pour Elodie Bouchez...... en anglais....

Following the themes of both L’Esquive and La Faute a Voltaire, in what positive ways do you think French literary or cultural history, which has historically defined our traditional notions of what it means to be French – most often a white descendent of Europe – address the contemporary issues of immigration and cultural assimilation in contemporary France?

Similarly, given the attention to “la crise dans les banlieues,” in what ways can the media serve as positive outlet for open dialogue and communication? Do you think the French public is open to new perspectives on immigration or do entrenched historical and political cleavages still dominate French values about immigration? Do you have hope that movies can serve as a influential medium of change on societal attitudes towards contemporary issues?

You have said that what attracted you to the role of Lucie in La Faute a Voltaire was her “capacity to express herself (“s’exprimer”) and her wants and desires both loud and strong – in an absolute way without fear of others’ reactions (“sans avoir peur du regard des autres”) – in what ways do you or your work embody or represent this headstrong, resilient attitude towards challenges in life? How has your background as an immigrant, born in Tunisia, influenced your attitude towards acting? Has it shaped this resilience you wish to emulate in your roles?

During the 2004 campaign, the Bush administration criticized Kerry as being out of touch with the American people and instead supported by a few Hollywood elites. Do you think la cause celebre of political activism amongst celebrities of your generation in France is in touch with the French people? What was the reaction of the French movie industry to the recent turmoil over labor laws in France? Do you feel, as a celebrity in the spotlight, the responsibility to find a voice for the underrepresented?

As someone who has traveled extensively in both the United States and France, how would you compare the grappling issues of immigration that have consumed political dialogue in both countries? In what ways could both countries learn from each other in light of the role of cultural diversity in America and cultural assimilation in France?

You have worked with a variety of young directors – such as Cédric Klapisch, Gael Morel, Erik Zonca – is there a particular reason you find yourself attracted to their work? Do you think they offer a different perspective on contemporary issues that directors of an older generation cannot offer? Where do you see the future of French cinema – more politicized, more apathetic, more conservative, more mainstream?

Feerie

Bonjour Elodie--

Vous avez dit lors d'un interview: "J'ai tout de suite eu envie de participer à cette histoire, d'être l'une des petites 'fees' que Jallel allait rencontrer sur sa route." Ayant vu Les Roseaux Sauvages et La Vie Revee des Anges, je crois que peut-etre ce role de fee vous convient, ou bien que vous y prenez un interet particulier. Pour vous, quelle est la nature de la feerie? Dans le deux films, vous semblez toujours vivre a double--dans differentes dimension--et je me demande s'il y a un attrait particulier pour vous dans cela.

Merci de repondre, et de venir chez nous a Stanford!

Stanford French Film Festival: Elodie Bouchez in "La Faute a Voltaire"

Synopsis of "La Faute A Voltaire"

Winner of the Golden Lion for first feature at the 2000 Venice Film Festival, "La Faute à Voltaire" aka "Poetical Refugee" is the story of Jallel, a Tunisian immigrant in Paris. Claiming to be a refugee from war-torn Algeria in order to get political asylum, his life in the country of 'liberty, equality and fraternity' is one of homeless shelters, illegal jobs and emotionally complex sexual relationships.

But director Abdel Kechiche refuses to portray Jallel as either hapless victim or angry rebel. Instead, he focuses on Jallel's relationships with his new community, an eclectic group of lively unemployed French and second-generation immigrant. Among them, Lucie, played by Élodie Bouchez, and her raw emotions....

Elodie Bouchez in "La Faute a Voltaire"

BIG NEWS: Interview with Elodie Bouchez on May 9th

Welcome everyone, Bonjour tout le monde

Here's the news: the French actress Élodie Bouchez - who starred memorably in "The Dreamlife of Angels" - will come to Stanford to present the film "Poetical Refugee" (La Faute a Voltaire) on May 9th...

...and we are going to do an Actors Studio interview with her just before the screening. Although there will be an open mic time for the audience to ask her questions directly, not everyone will get to ask her their questions "live".

So I've created this blog to hear from you what you would like to know about her. What questions are you dying to ask? or if you have messages, comments, wishes you'd want to share with her. She will read every posting, and hopefully I will be able to include as many of your questions as possible in the interview.

So, go for it!

ciaò.

C.

PS: all the info on the Festival are on : http://dlcl.stanford.edu/research/frenchfilm.html