Unexpected casting for ”Farewell”, Christian Carion's highly recommended espionage film, theatrically released on September 23rd. Emir Kusturica, up to now a ruffian but accomplished director, interprets a KGB officer, both romantic and fatalistic. He is perfect. Meeting with a promising actor!
Kustu seems to be the first surprised! Yes, Christian Carion's film is “good”, and yes, he is rather “not bad” in it! Two confessions that this usually savage eschar-tip concedes, in an interview, with an unusual sweetness. In fact, his meeting with the kindly academic director of Merry Christmas was, a priori, more than improbable. But against all odds, the balkanic Emir, ruffling filmmaker of Time of the Gypsies, crazy “guitar hero” of the No Smoking Orchestra, is indeed at his place in Farewell. Better, in this very interesting French spy movie - release on September 23 - this almost neophyte actor radiates a false nonchalance and a real melancholy downright awesome! Kustu, defeated Colonel KGB, very discreet hero of the ultimate cold war of the 80s: we take it. And we listen, in his franco-english sabir …
Emir Kusturica actor, even if you have already shot with Patrice Leconte, or even in three of your films, it's unexpected! Especially in a first role
Emir Kusturica : Yes, well, it's still a little late to build a career! Let's say today, I'm lucky enough to be able to choose cool stuff. Interesting. For example, this character. And I did not choose it because it's a controversial story, huh! No, what attracted me is the human aspect of this story. It is very rare that you are offered a thriller that attaches as much importance to the individual part of the human being. In addition, Christian Carion makes elegant films …
The film's action takes place in 1983, during the cold war. Many things have changed since then. Do you have the feeling, you “the man of the East”, that things have changed for good, especially in Russia?
EK : In Russia, it's better, in the sense that Obama and Medvedev talk about reducing the military arsenal. But today's story is perhaps China coming back on track. There is a new Titan on the international scene. So this story, Farewell's, is almost a dinosaur story …
If not, to return to the original question, and since you are first a director: do you like yourself as an actor ?
EK : When I saw myself in this film, which I found rather successful, I thought to myself that, perhaps, I could make the actor in my next film… It will be dedicated to Pancho Villa… There it is (laugh)…
Interview by Ariane Allard. Translation by Matthieu Dhennin
en/itv_09-09_iletaitunefoislecinema.txt · Last modified: 2018/02/11 13:31 by matthieu1