A composer in need of inspiration who has just left his wife and children thinks he can find refuge in an old house on the side of a cliff on a deserted Breton island. In this strange and isolated place, he will only find an out-of-tune piano and visitors who are determined not to leave him in peace.
You wrote the script for ‘HIM’ during the first lockdown?
Guillaume Canet : I was in the middle of preparing ‘ASTERIX & OBELIX: THE MIDDLE KINGDOM’, the sets were already under construction, the crew was on deck… Yet, here I was, all locked up and cut off from the action. I tried to concentrate on editing the film, but very quickly, I stopped. I was out of juice. It was a few weeks later when I decided to focus on writing this new film.
I started by typing three letters on my computer: LUI
From then on, morning after morning, I found myself writing scenes that revolved around this character; I wrote a draft of this in one go, without any genuine reflection, without any logic, and I was not concerned with constructing any narrative.
At what point did you say to yourself: ‘this will be my next film’?
Guillaume Canet Halfway through and after reading sections of it to Marion (Cotillard). She thought the subject was fascinating and liberating and immediately made the connection with ‘The Guest House’, a poem by Rumi. Here it is: ‘This Human Being Is a Guest House’ …..
Are you ‘LUI’?
Guillaume Canet : It is probably my most personal film, and it contains some elements that I have experienced or felt, but it is not an autobiographical film.
How was the filming?
Laetitia Casta : It was a delight to perform these scenes with the wry humour that Guillaume wanted. We should not be afraid to be light — sometimes even superficial — and then, all of a sudden, delve into something extremely profound. ‘HIM’ is a film that contains a lot of dialogues, and it was a pleasure to exchange them with the other actors.
Thank you both for sharing your time.
Our takeaway from this film: Two stunning actresses in a storm under the direction of Guillaume Canet
interview : Angela Donava
Photographer : André Chemetoff – Gil Zetbase
Special thanks for : Dominique Segall Communication and
Festival CinéRoman
WIFE VIRGINIE EFIRA
POTE MATHIEU KASSOVITZ
MISTRESS LAETITIA CASTA
MOTHER NATHALIE BAYE
FATHER PATRICK CHESNAIS
DOCTOR GILLES COHEN
