Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi. “I accidentally saw an old woman in a bar mirror and realized that it was my reflection”

No job, no money, no lovers. And for everyone around him, a teenage son (Félix Lefebvre), who does not hide the shame he has inspired. In A dream lifeBy Morgan Simon, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi plays a role that at first glance is a thousand miles away from her. Actress, director, educated with the privileges of a family of industrialists and artists, the Franco-Italian did not experience a difficult end of the month, social deterioration, calls to the bank and France Travail. However, he found a lot in common with Nicole’s character (inspired by the director’s mother); over fifty was the impression that was gradually being placed on the pocket. Feeling out of place in your own body as you age. The anguish of never being satisfied, of being overwhelmed by the unconditional love she has for her children. Meeting.

Madame Figaro: What attracted you to Life in a Dream?
Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi. Above all, the meeting with the director Morgan Simon, who I found very motivated by his project, precise, very hardworking, with a great desire to shoot the film with me. Then I felt connections with Nicole’s character, which seemed both complicated and obvious to me.

What are these links?
I had the impression of understanding his loneliness, his sorrow. Sometimes, when we reach the middle of our life, we get the impression that we are at the end, that we have lived everything, we have failed everything, there is nothing left and we will die. I know that feeling. But sometimes we are reborn. That’s what I found beautiful about a movie about a revival. And also a simple thing that I always keep in mind: the wheel turns. This is what I tell myself when I see people who are arrogant, happy with their lives, teaching lessons, or who think they have power. Arrogance bothers me a lot. it is a very important metaphysical mistake because it makes us forget that we are all going to die.

There is a very nice scene where your character looks in the mirror, has a hard time accepting his reflection and starts trying to “correct” his face. How did you approach it?
It is very difficult for me to look at myself in a mirror, in a movie or in a theater. So my first job focused on that. The second was to have the courage to really look at myself. Something I don’t do much anymore in life.

For what?
I no longer feel the need to look at myself. at home, I turn off the light when I enter the bathroom, I never wear makeup, and on the set of a movie, I no longer watch myself on the combine. It is complicated. there is a dichotomy between what I feel and what I see. I am healthy, I feel very fit, so I am very surprised when I see myself in the mirror. Once I saw an old woman in a bar mirror and realized that it was my reflection. What I see there are signs of life, my sufferings, all the dead people, separations, worries, fears. Joy, too, because I have little left. As for wrinkles, I don’t see much. Instead I see a face that has changed shape. In the film, my character very naively asks his son to pay for a facelift. The difference between us is that he can’t afford it and I can. But what we have in common is that we didn’t.

I wouldn’t be in any of the movies I’ve done recently if I wore makeup

Valeria Bruni Tedeschi

Why, in your case?
Because I am afraid above all that it will fail. Then, because I noticed that I wouldn’t have been in any of the movies I’ve done recently if I wore makeup. Because I played women who were elderly or who couldn’t afford surgery. My body is my instrument, made of my emotions, my unconscious. I want to change it. Maybe one day.

In other words, do you not rule out cosmetic surgery?
No, I don’t rule it out. And I don’t judge those who use it. But I have reservations.

How do you approach the role of a socially downtrodden woman who comes from a very privileged background?
I hesitated, first not to embarrass Morgan. I didn’t want someone to blame me for hiring me, I told him to think about his film first. I was very shocked by the criticism directed at my daughter (Oumi Bruni Garrel, Editor’s Note)when he was filmed Neneh Superstar (released in 2022). The director was criticized for casting a “girl” instead of a little girl from the suburbs, although the same critics said she was otherwise extraordinary. I think that an artist, as long as he is deeply honest, has worked deeply with the people he talks about and knows their pain, has the right to make a film. Can I introduce an unemployed person who lives in the suburbs, can’t make ends meet, can’t get even a small job? For intimate and secret reasons, I felt the right to do so. And I hope that the audience will recognize that. In recent years I have acted in 3 or 4 films where I like women. And yet, I do not declare myself a homosexual.

Your character also embarks on a new love story in his late fifties… The film’s theme of age and sexuality affects you in particular.
In full. It’s a feminist theme. I think there is no age for a woman to feel loved, attractive, beautiful, young. I really feel old. These are moments, sensations. Today I feel like I am 40 years old. Last night I felt a little older than my mom, like I was 96 years old. Maybe I’ll be 12 tomorrow or cry like I did when I was 3. There is no age for a woman, or even a man, to feel attractive, even if it is less harsh for them. This is related to menopause. if we could have had a baby later i think things would have changed. No longer having a baby project to offer a man, it’s like you’re no longer solvent. Not good for anything anymore.

A dream life tells about a son disappointed by his mother. How did you approach this complex relationship?
It’s pretty easy for me, I find it pretty frustrating.

Indeed, even with your children.
Yes, with everyone. In any case, it is not difficult to reawaken in me the feeling of not being fit, not enough, of being ashamed. To try hard and overcome everything. To love too much, to love badly. I am not better than Nicole’s character, absolutely not. For example, he has a very physical relationship with his son. I also love to kiss my children. Sometimes I tell myself it’s too much, that I should be cooler. They keep growing and pushing me away. Maybe I’m not at the right distance.

How do you overcome this feeling of inadequacy?
Because I am responsible for my children, I could be, let’s say, more crazy, more worthless, but I have to be a little less with them. And I also accepted this feeling thanks to my work. I throw all my mistakes there. And they become honey.