Agnes Jaoui. “There are times when I touch my pain raw and others when the dead are like a benevolent presence.”

“Get used to yourself.” this, as Agnes Jauy describes, is the daily challenge faced by Barbery Bichette, the character she plays. My life my face, was presented at the opening of the Cinematographers’ Fortnight at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. Crossed with poems, shadows and touches of humor, a 55-year-old woman who strives to go through everyday life, work, relationships with children, friends or strangers without collapsing.

My life my face It is the last film of Sophie Fillier, who died in July 2023, shortly after the filming of the film. It was his children (Adam and Agathe Bonitzer) and his editor Francois Quiquere who completed it. Agnes Jaoui gives it her features, depth and humor. Not forgetting a certain melancholy. Meeting.

Madame Figaro: Can you describe the heroine you play? My life my face ?
Agnes Jaoui: I play a character named Barberie Bichette, also known as Barbie. This is Sophie Fillier’s work, it’s a lot about her, a little bit about me, a mix of the two. A woman who doesn’t always do well, but wants to get better.

What do you have in him?
Age, body, face, and then maybe a way to overcome melancholy, depression and the desire to just be good.

Speaking of the body, yours is heavily featured in the film. We see you appearing shirtless in front of the mirror.
In this scene, Barbie covers herself nicely with a bath towel and imagines getting out. This scene immediately attracted me as we all did it in front of our mirrors with our bodies and our faces; looking at ourselves in the best light, trying to “blur” ourselves, it reminds me of Striptease Peanut A little girl looks at herself in the mirror, and when Snoopy asks her if she likes it, she replies, “No, I’m used to it.” In this scene in the movie, when I say, “I have to do belly prints, but first I have to taste life again,” it says it all—the whole movie and all of Sophie’s fun. Maybe that’s also what I have in common with Barberi: being very frontal. He is someone who looks himself in the face, who is very honest, very honest with himself.

What does the name “Barbie” sound like that we’ve been hearing a lot about in recent months?
Here the character is almost the opposite of the Barbie doll, she is less plastic. Here it reveals all the depth and beauty of Sophie. this name and the name are not chosen randomly.

About: barbie have you seen the movie? Greta Gerwigof the jury
Yes, and I liked it. I enjoyed the entire movie, very inventive, very funny, I thought it was clever in many scenes. I found it a bit strong to make Barbie a feminist icon, I didn’t see her that way. But what he did with it is very interesting.

Your character knows how to see poetry everywhere. Is this an ability you share with him?
To me, the hallmark of an artist is being able to bring out beauty or poetry in beings, things, landscapes, objects that you would never otherwise look at. It is the opposite of advertising or cliché. This is Sophie’s work, her great ability to find beauty, depth, grandeur in the smallest details. This is what moved me when I read the script. for example, there’s a scene where I’m in Scotland, eating fish and chips and exchanging glances with an old lady. When I read it, I found it very beautiful. When she smiles at me, many things are said: two women alone, one smiling at the other… An entire humanity is described in the exchange of glances.

My life my face is the last film of Sophie Fillier, who died in the summer. How are you getting on with its presentation at Cannes?
We all worked together to make it happen, from the producer to his kids, his crew, the cinematographer, all his friends. Sophie was very popular, very respected. I’m kind of in denial at the moment. I have a feeling Sophie is there, that she’s going to be there. That everything is okay.

It’s word for word What did you tell us about Jean-Pierre Bakry?and the tribute paid to you during both Caesar’s last rites…
Yes, that’s funny. The dead accompany us. I think this is for anyone going through grief. In any case, that’s how it is for me: there are moments of the abyss, moments where I touch my pain raw, and others where they are like benevolent presences. But with Sophie, whom I had only recently known, it was completely different. even if we had a crushing encounter, true friendship affection, he did not accompany my life. For now, yes, his presence is perhaps a protection. Maybe I’ll crash, but I just want to enjoy the screening of his movie, which he has the right to. Because what’s more, I discovered that he’s never had a film selected at Cannes, which seems crazy to me considering he wrote the film.

There’s been a lot of talk at Cannes this year about the power of women, whether they’re creators, activists, or often both. What would you wish for those who will hold this 77th festival?
Everything is changing for women. In any case, there is real awareness, even if there is also real resistance; again this year there are only 4 films in the official selection of women’s films. If I am pointing this out, I am saying the exact opposite, I would like them to express themselves not only as victims, but also as self-affirming women who are doing something. I wish them to be happy, to find their place, to use all means of existence, to be heard, to be recognized, to be seen. With men. Not in their place.