I want this film to make the audience dream as well as think, sing as well as dance. To startle as well as dazzle. -- Audrey Estrougo on her film Toi, Moi, les autres.
I was half listening to the February 21st edition of Laurent Ruquier's programme on Europe 1 ("On va s'gêner"). Each day, Ruquier invites a mystery guest, and his gang of regulars must ask questions to guess who the guest is.
On February 21st, the guest turned out to be actress Cécile Cassel, and one of the reasons she was there was to promote a new film she's in that opens in French theatres on February 23rd -- Toi, Moi, les autres, directed by Audrey Estrougo.
My ears perked up when I listened to Laurent describe the film as a bit of an OVNI (French for UFO), with a little side of Bollywood tossed in for good measure. I immediately went out and found the trailer for the film:
A little more searching led to the discovery that the film had been shown at the International Rome Film Festival last fall, under the title of Leila. And I managed to get hold of an information document that accompanied the film, in which Estrougo describes her film and outlines her intentions.
Estrougo's main aim was to present a portrait of contemporary Paris -- multi-cultural and multi-ethnic, and to make a political statement through the use of a dramatic love story.
Gab, the son of a privileged Parisian family, meets Leila, a pretty law student with a turbulent life in a rough part of Paris. The film explores the themes of illegal immigration and deportation, social injustice and exclusion -- and does it all through the vehicle of Gab and Leila's relationship.
Estrougo set out to redefine the musical genre (in French cinema), "where comedy, dance and music are mixed to create a charted, hard-hitting and absolutely contemporary picture of our society." The music -- covers of French standards such as "Pour un flirt avec toi", "Le temps de l'amour" and "J'attendrai" -- "must both carry and sublimate the story's ambitions," according to Estrougo.
It's probably no wonder, then, that Laurent Ruquier felt a connection to Bollywood in the film.
And I know where I'd be tomorrow if I were still living in France -- at the very first showing of Toi, Moi et les autres.
Someone posted a link to this on BollyWHAT, and I was completely enamoured. The description you posted makes me even more excited to see it (maybe on dvd). I love the whole "Umbrellas of Cherbourg" meets "West Side Story" with a bit of "Glee" and "Bollywood."
Posted by: dustdevil.liz | Wednesday, 23 February 2011 at 02:19
The French do have a very strong tradition of musical comedy, and I'm dying to see what Estrougo's film will bring to it.
Plus, the trailer looks absolutely smashing. And Cecile Cassel spoke so wonderfully of the experience of working on the film, too.
Sigh. I miss the ability to just walk into a theatre and see absolutely whatever I want.
Posted by: katherine | Wednesday, 23 February 2011 at 08:15
I saw the poster when I went to the movie the other day but didn't think much of it. It's playing at the theater in town, I may go see it tomorrow afternoon.
Posted by: Lilibel | Monday, 28 February 2011 at 16:25
Oh, I'd so love to know what you think -- what little I've heard after release suggests maybe it's flying under the radar or overshadowed by some much bigger releases, but it looks so interesting.
Posted by: katherine | Monday, 28 February 2011 at 19:37
Now I have seen it I understand while it's definitly flying under the radar. Well, it's against Tron and Bieber in the cinemas so first reason here. Second : beyond the music, the singing, the pretty heroes and Paris, there is a strong strong social message that is showing step by step the fate of aliens, when they are found and sent back in their home country. More than a pretty movie, it's also a complete critic of our current government politics.
I enjoyed it very much and really recommends it if you manage to get your hand on a copy.
Posted by: Lilibel | Tuesday, 01 March 2011 at 10:49
Yes, the social message comes through in the trailer, and especially in the director's message Estrougo wrote when the film went to the Rome festival.
Sounds like the film is right up my alley -- it'll likely turn up over here at some point, I hope, I'll totally be keeping my eye out for it.
Posted by: katherine | Tuesday, 01 March 2011 at 12:23