The great French actress Isabelle Huppert spoke exclusively to Hespress EN in the lovely garden of the renowned Mamounia Hotel about her extraordinary career, the French film industry, and “La Joie de Vivre of movies.”
The actress rose to fame back in 1977 in Claude Goretta’s‘ The Lacemaker, for which she won the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer.
In 2001, she won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival, her second, for her role in the powerful psychosexual drama ‘The Piano Teacher’.
Despite dealing with different and very sexual subject matter, the movie was favorably received by critics at the time and won the cast and crew multiple awards.
When questioned if the movie’s reception would have been different if it had been released now in 2022, Huppert told Hespress EN that because the austrian director Michael Haneke’s direction of the film is so potent, the response would have maintained the same.
In a long career that has seen her win numerous important prizes, Huppert is regarded as giving her best performance in the “audaciously magnificent” movie.
Directed by Michael Haneke, it tells the story of an unmarried piano teacher, Erika, at a Vienna conservatory, living with her in a complete state of emotional and sexual disequilibrium, who enters into a sadomasochistic relationship with her student.
“When we first discovered Michael Haneke, we discovered a major filmmaker,” said Isabelle.
Many considered the role of ‘The Piano Teacher’ Erika Kohut to be challenging, but not Huppert.
“I never considered it as a challenge; I never took any of my roles as challenges, even ‘Elle’ of ‘The Piano teacher.”
Huppert’s performance in “Elle” led to her nomination for the Best Actress Oscar and numerous other Best Actress awards, including the Golden Globe.
The film tells the story of a businesswoman who is raped in her home by a masked assailant and decides not to report it due to her past experience with the police.
Isabelle told Hespress EN that even the most demanding roles, the most provocative roles, “I never took them as challenges. For me, it was very easy.”
“Also”, she added, “The reason why I never took them as challenges is that I always instinctively, not even consciously, try to make palpable the little layers which make them (the characters), innocent, emotional, and human.”
Once Huppert identifies this ‘zone’ of a character’s mind, she makes it easy to make a story and makes the character very acceptable for people, which is why even her most provocative roles were always received well, making her ahead of her time since the beginning.
Isabelle believes that films can reach society as a whole, in every aspect, “They are an imaginary projection of ourselves which is what cinema should remain.”
Huppert believes that if humans ever lose “La Joie de Vivre found in viewing movies,” there are many other worthwhile activities we may engage in instead, such as reading, listening to music, and taking a stroll down the street.
When Hespress EN previously interviewed the French actress Julie Delpy, she mentioned a certain setback that French cinema is facing.
Huppert, a French actress who has witnessed the development of the film business in her homeland through many stages, vehemently disagrees.
“French cinema is still quite versatile; there is still quite a great variety not only in directing but also in production.”
Huppert explained how France contributes a lot in helping other movies especially European ones get made.
“I don’t think that the French cinema industry is in such bad shape actually.”
The 69 Isabelle Anne Madelaine Huppert is considered one of the best actresses in the world, for her spot-on portrayal of morally gray characters over the years, and extraordinary sense of fashion.
‘The queen of the Cannes film festival’ with endless movies featured in it over the years has played roles that crossed cultural boundaries and received unlatched critical responses movie after movie.
The actress came to FIFM’s 19 edition for the screening of her latest biopic movie, the dramatic thriller ‘La Syndicaliste’ dressed in a beautiful black gown looking like a Disney villain.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.