Victor Belmondo. “Jean-Paul was above all my grandfather, even my friend. There are more difficult names than him.”

What immediately stands out about Victor Belmondo is his generosity, education and humility. Qualities as rare as they are appreciable, and which, despite certain preconceived notions, are in no way synonymous with inconsistency or intelligence. For ten years, the thirty-year-old has stepped up his game and broadened his palette, from arthouse films to popular comedies.

Without borders or chapel, he seduced Michel Leclerc (The very private life of Mr. Sim), Lisa Azuelos (My child), Xavier Beauvois (Albatross), Olivier Payon (Stop your lies!), Ivan Attal (Throwing the dice), Christopher Thompson (Bardoseries) or Melha Bedia (Miskina, poor thingon Prime Video). But the film, which is sure to mark a turning point in his career, is one of this fall’s gems; Live, die, be reborn, By Gael Morel, selected at Cannes and Angoulême French-speaking film festivals.

Gentle masculinity

“Victor offered me his immediate compassion and a power of seduction that was the opposite of what I had first imagined. […] There is kindness and precision in his eyes,” explains the director, who has entrusted the actor with the role of a gay and HIV-positive photographer who falls in love with his neighbor Sammy, a married father and AIDS sufferer. “Since the advent of triple therapy, HIV has been talked about less, even in the media,” says the actor. However, the virus still exists and is still killing en masse in some countries. It is important not to make the subject invisible, which, however, is not central to the film. The triangular relationship we see on screen with Theo Christine and Lou Lampros is certainly disrupted by the virus, but above all, Gael tells a wonderful story of love, youth and acceptance.

Desire, sensuality, realization, fear and reconstruction are all stages of this romance, where Victor Belmondo embraces a subtle and irresistible masculinity. “I immediately felt close to this character, but far from my own life. I learned through each of my roles and Gael allowed me to explore new areas. He was an actor, especially wild reeds, by Andre Techine and we share the same vision for the game. Their ideal. Cleanliness. “We also have a common reference, Catherine Deneuve, who is directed by Gael After him. He plays without creating, without looking for a performance. He was one of my models when I wanted to do this business.”

The inner fire

His desire to act was born from childhood, especially thanks to his father, Paul, who introduced him to the films of Martin Scorsese with Robert De Niro; Raging bull, Taxi driver, Waltz of the dolls. “I didn’t understand everything, but I was fascinated, captivated by what I saw.” At the age of 10, when his father was acting in a short film, he was asked to play his son. “I have never felt so good as on this set. I found my inner fire there.”

Like many Parisians, I often want to leave this city… and am always happy to return.

Victor Belmondo

In his family, the artistic flame is passed down from generation to generation, the great-grandson of the sculptor Paul Belmondo, he is also the grandson of Jean-Paul Belmondo. An inheritance that could interfere with his title. “I didn’t ask myself that question. When I was born, my grandfather was already a legend, and I grew up with his films. To me he was above all my grandfather, even my friend. There are harder names than him, he was generous and caring, and we all benefited from the love he left behind.”

A taste of challenge

Made iconic by Jean-Luc Godard suffocating And Pierrot the Mad Popular with cult comedies, Jean-Paul Belmondo was also one of the great cops of French cinema. His grandson Victor will soon follow in his footsteps Castle 36:thriller by Olivier Marshall for Netflix. He will play a BIS agent who, despite being fired, leads the investigation when members of his team are killed and disappear. For this physical role, Victor Belmondo trained in boxing, shooting and police techniques.

“I was like a child on the playground. What I also like about this job is that it allows me to explore worlds or objects that I would never have approached in another life.” In the musical beautiful beautiful On Diastem’s side, he will sing alongside Clara Luciani, Laura Phelpin, William Lebgill and Vincent Dedien. “I have only one contribution: I am a poor singer. But, in fact, the challenge made me a lot of fun.” A screenwriter graduate of the Graduate School of Cinematic Studies, he also hopes to venture into directing soon. And contact the theater again. “I’m waiting for the right piece that will require real physical and emotional commitment. When I started, I went wherever they wanted, I wasn’t in a position to choose. Today, I try to choose roles that allow me to surpass myself, even to solve problems or defend visions that suit me.”

I’m waiting for the right piece that will require a real physical and emotional commitment

Victor Belmondo

Just solar

If experience allows him to be stricter, it has in no way changed his simplicity and spontaneity, the trademark of his clan. “I grew up away from the media, in Vaucreson near Paris, with my parents and two brothers. Our family life has always taken precedence over everything else.” He moved to Paris a dozen years ago for his studies and then his career. “Like many Parisians, I often want to leave this city and, paradoxically, I am always happy to return. The only other place I could see myself living in is Rome.’

When he is not working, he regularly escapes there, often with his family. The Eternal City is the stronghold of his mother, Luana, a media and celebrity chef. “I am very attached to my dual Italian roots. Belmondos come from Cefalù in Sicily. This country is a concentration of pleasure, everything I love: unparalleled light, la dolce vita, cinema, good food, my family.” Peaceful pillars of sunny strength..

Live, reborn, die , By Gael Morel, with Victor Belmondo, Theo Christine, Lou Lampros… Released on September 25th.
Miskina, poor Season 2, September 27 on Prime Video.