INTERVIEW – An actor performs on a thread a tender social comedy that puts the spotlight on hospital clowns, real everyday heroes for sick children.
In 2015, Reda Kateb signed a short film Picchu about two brothers, hosts of children’s shows. Since then, he has not picked up the camera again. Acting was enough for his happiness. his roles after ten years Hippocrates (Supports Cesar) Django, Beyond the Standard, The Promises or series In therapy And Property: he was established as one of the essential and charismatic figures of French cinema.
And then, at the end of the reading, the realization and image of the clown (already Pitchun) caught him. In on a thread his first feature film (1), it tells the story of the transformation of a street acrobat into a hospital clown working with sick children. His inspiration? A book by the founder of Rire Médecin, an association of which he is now patron and which will receive a portion of the film’s proceeds.
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Casting? His friend, Philippe Rebot (already an actor in his short film), Sarah Giraudeau, who made a documentary about Le Rire Médecin (2) and Jean-Philippe Bouzot, the true clown of the association. And in the lead role: singer Aloise Sauvage, a circus artist. An army is like its captain: authentic, without posturing, generous. In the service of therapeutic laughter, Reda Kateb steps aside to highlight the very reticent protagonists who, until now, have never known the merits of fiction.
Madame Figaro. – Was it necessary for you to switch to directing? ?
Reda Kateb. – No way. Just being in the actor’s place has never disappointed me. I used to say that I would become a film director if a story came, if it made sense. Which is what happened when I discovered Le Rire Médecin. Dr. Giraffe’s Magazine”, the book of Caroline Symonds, the founder of the association. I met her through Ariane Ascaride, but despite my admiration for her work, it took time to decide. Did I really want to face children’s diseases, such an anxiety-inducing world? This became evident at the end of the first day of my immersion course with clowns at the Necker Hospital in Paris. Then I followed them for six months in different hospitals and associations. And everything took shape.
How to keep a safe distance from such an object ?
Accepting the point of view of clowns who absolutely reject pathos. I was protected by this thread they walk on to bring laughter and life to a place where everything is fragile and uncertain. The hospital clowns are everyday heroes that I wanted to thank. More broadly, the character of the clown has a humanity and poetry that has always moved me in Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Fellini…
The character of the clown carries with it a humanity and a poetry that has always moved me, in Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Fellini…
Reda Kateb
Your heroine’s clown also evokes Giulietta Masina Strada…
It is a small token of my mother, who was very important in my artistic awakening. he took me to see this Fellini movie when I was 8 or 9. I figured it out little by little, but On a thread very connected to my childhood. I have never revealed myself as much as with this film. I grew up between comedy with my father, who was an actor and co-founder of the National Theater of Algeria, and hospital services where my mother, a nurse, worked. The connection between acrobats and caregivers is part of my DNA.
With the popularity, especially in our time, is it still possible to consider the profession of an actor as an acrobat? ?
I don’t see it any other way. Status does not change anything. When it started working for me, I was very careful because I was afraid to go off center. But at the age of 47, I have a much greater distance and I no longer bear the guilt of the teacher. I guess you can be an acrobat in a costume at Caesars like in your neighborhood in Montreux. I can play the game of time, for example on social networks, but I do not lose my desire to have fun, tell stories, dress up, take on new challenges.
“Falls and falls are our best tools.” This line from the movie fits your philosophy. ?
I recognize myself in the image of a clown who opposes the forgiveness of the winners. He is an awkward and clumsy character at times who gets back up despite being knocked down and knocked down. I myself have learned more from my failures than from my successes, which although I cherish them, are only a passport to continue the journey.
I recognize myself in the character of the clown who opposes the apology of the winners
Reda Kateb
Have you ever fallen from a height like your heroine? ?
Several times, especially in personal life, but a long time ago. I’ve been floating on cloud nine for several years. I have experienced professional failures. At the age of 20-25, my daily life was unstable. I played in the theater without pay, and although I did odd jobs, the conductors visited me regularly. In 2003, I accepted a mission as a customer advisor at Orange to get back afloat. At the same time, I organized a small show with musicians, where I read the texts of my great uncle, the writer Kateb Yatsine. I thought it was all over for me, but then my first agent spotted me. I was more than 30 years old when I made a small place for myself in this profession; my faith and my motivation were already greatly tested and I already had a solid enough foundation to not lose my footing.
You have not been on stage for seventeen years. Is it a wish? ?
Even more. A week after the release of the film, I start rehearsals for the film Par le Villages., Peter Handke’s play (3) about the writer’s return to his homeland. We will play at the Pompidou Center, then at the “Ivry” theater and on tour. For a long time I was looking for a theater project to return to the source. I performed in my first play at the age of 8 and accompanied my father on tour throughout my childhood. Like him, I wanted to live on the road, be part of a troupe, travel to other worlds. My love for the game comes from there, from him.
You also just starred in your first comedy…
I was waiting for it! It is the story of an African space mission that was carried out and carried out by Jean-Pascal Zadie. An important meeting. he brought out the clown in me.
(1) On a threadBy Reda Kateb, with Alois Savage, Philippe Rebot, Jean-Philippe Bouzot… Released on October 30.
(2) My heroesBy Sara Girodeau at arte.tv.
(3) Par les Villages, December 13 to 22, Center Georges Pompidou, Paris. centrepompidou.fr:
Source: Le Figaro
