Louis Garrel, Scrapper, The Innocent, Theater Camp
Aug 25, 2023
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Louis Garrel, the French writer, director, and actor, sits down for an interview to discuss his latest film 'The Innocent', a comedy-heist-come-family-farce. Robbie Collin reviews 'Scrapper', a sunny kitchen-sink drama, and 'Theater Camp', a comedy about the eccentric staff of a rundown theater camp. A great week in movie-going!
Louis Garrel's film 'The Innocent' explores complex family dynamics and blends drama with humor.
Louis Garrel drew from his own experiences and Italian cinema traditions to create an authentic and engaging film.
Louis Garrel is curious to see how the British audience will react to 'The Innocent', as French films often face difficulties in finding success in the UK.
Deep dives
The Innocent: A mix of drama and humor with international appeal
The Innocent, co-written and directed by Louis Garrel, is a French film that has already achieved success in France. Garrel stars as Abel, whose mother teaches acting to prisoners and ends up marrying one of them. The film explores the complexities of their relationship and Abel's distrust of his new stepfather. With a mix of drama and humor, the movie has already resonated with audiences and earned critical acclaim. Garrel's direction brings a distinct style inspired by Italian cinema, adding a touch of humor to the emotional story. While the film has been successful in France, Garrel is anxious and excited to see how it will be received by the British audience.
The Autobiographical Inspiration Behind The Innocent
Louis Garrel grew up in a household where his mother, a teacher, formed relationships with prisoners through her acting classes. This personal experience inspired the story of The Innocent, which revolves around a young man named Abel and his mother's relationship with a prisoner named Michel. Garrel's own connection to this unconventional family dynamic lent authenticity and depth to the characters and storyline. Despite the autobiographical nature of the film, Garrel also drew from Italian cinematic traditions, infusing humor into what could have been a purely dramatic narrative. Through this blend, he sought to capture the essence of his own experiences and bring the story to life in a unique and engaging way.
The Expectations and Anxieties of Introducing The Innocent to Different Audiences
Having already achieved success in France, The Innocent faces the challenge of winning over audiences in different countries. Louis Garrel understands that each audience has its own preferences and tastes, and he is curious to see how the British audience will react to his film. The movie's humor and mix of genres may resonate differently with British viewers, and Garrel is both excited and anxious to discover their response. Additionally, he mentions that French films often face difficulties in finding success in the UK. Despite these concerns, Garrel is hopeful that the film's international appeal, authenticity, and humor will captivate the British audience and leave a positive impression.
The Personal Journey of The Innocent's Director and Star, Louis Garrel
The Innocent holds a personal significance for Louis Garrel, as it draws from his own experiences and memories. Growing up in an environment where his mother formed relationships with prisoners, Garrel gained exposure to unique stories and perspectives. This familiarity with the subject matter allowed him to create a heartfelt and emotionally resonant film. Garrel acknowledges that while some elements of the movie are autobiographical, others are more symbolic and fantastical. The process of making The Innocent was both joyful and nerve-wracking for Garrel, but his personal connection to the story and dedication to exploring themes of love, trust, and humor motivated him to bring this unique narrative to the screen.
Key Point 1: The film "The Innocent" explores the challenges and aspirations of a family deeply involved in filmmaking.
The podcast episode discusses the film 'The Innocent' and highlights the significance of the movie when the speaker mentions hearing laughter during the screening. The speaker, who comes from a family entrenched in the film industry, shares that they initially wanted to become a heart surgeon but eventually pursued acting as influenced by their grandfather, who was a respected actor. The speaker also explains the choice to name the character Abel in all the films they have directed, possibly to pay homage to Nanni Moretti. Filming in Lyon was a deliberate decision to break away from shooting in Paris, finding new cinematic elements in the city's tourist spots.
Key Point 2: The podcast highlights the success of the film "The Innocent" at the César Awards and the impact of the lead actress.
The podcast episode mentions that 'The Innocent' received multiple nominations at the César Awards and won awards for supporting actress and screenplay. The speaker expresses pride in working with young talents who received their first nominations. The success of the film and the recognition of the lead actress, Nouméa Merlant, are discussed, as she played a transformative role in the movie. The speaker also mentions her upcoming project, a new version of 'Emma Bovary.'
With Mark deciding he simply hasn’t had enough of the UK’s waterways and heading back out to join Simon, Robbie Collin and James King are stepping in to co-captain The Take podcasting vessel.
James sits down with the funny and philosophical French writer, director and actor, Louis Garrel, to discuss his latest film ‘The Innocent’, a comedy-heist-come-family-farce that’s far more personal than you’d first think.
Robbie reviews ‘Scrapper’, a sunny, imaginative kitchen-sink drama starring Harris Dickinson; and ‘Theater Camp’, a Young Hollywood-packed comedy about the eccentric staff of a rundown theatre camp, who band together with the beloved founder’s crypto-bro son in an attempt to keep it afloat.
All in all, a great week in movie going.
Time Codes (relevant only for the Vanguard - who are ad-free!):
11:43 Scrapper review
24:31 Box Office Top 10
40:00 Louis Garrel interview
56:53 The Innocent review
1:02:10 Laughter Lift
1:05:20 Theatre Camp review
1:13:41 What’s On
You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo
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