Exceptional and prestigious screening on Saturday evening, unusual visit to an exhibition on Sunday morning: the tributes to Louis de Funès will have varied between extremes in the space of twelve hours this weekend.
Saturday evening, it is the Army museum and the town hall of the 7th arrondissement which invites 600 spectators - upon prior registration - to a screening of the "Adventures of Rabbi Jacob" in the main courtyard of the Hôtel des Invalides, there. where a scene from the film was shot by Gérard Oury in 1973. This was part of the celebrations for 350 years of Les Invalides.
From 8 p.m., the anonymous, masked, join the chairs in small groups facing a giant screen, while a panpiper performs music by Vladimir Cosma, composer of the soundtrack, who made the trip.
“We have the impression of having the Invalides to ourselves,” rejoices Jacqueline, 69, a resident of the neighborhood.
I have seen
Rabbi Jacob
many times, but to see him where he was shot is a privilege ”.
Christian, who came from Hauts-de-Seine with his wife and their three children, finds the evening formula: “It's a heritage film screened in a heritage site!
"
Projection of "Rabbi Jacob" in the courtyard of the Invalides.LP / Renaud Baronian
The mayor of the 7th district, Rachida Dati, confirms, delighted to show Les Invalides "an essential film of French cinema, a film of communion and reconciliation".
Before the first images appear on the screen, the director and screenwriter Danièle Thompson, daughter of Gérard Oury who co-signed the screenplay with her father, amazed by the statue of Napoleon which dominates the screen, does not hide her emotion : “My father would have been happy and proud to see
Rabbi Jacob
shown here, where he spent so much time to develop this long scene.
Many of us have seen him on TV, but it's another experience to see him with the laughing audience… ”
The projection will be marked by small gusts of wind which sometimes distort the screen slightly and a slightly faint sound, but what a pleasure to see Funès be surprised "in full" in front of Henri Guybet: "How Salomon, you are a Jew ?
"
"The naturist is concomitant with the gendarme"
Radical change of mood this Sunday morning.
At 9 a.m. sharp, the first naturists walk through the doors of the exhibition dedicated to Louis de Funès until May 31, 2021 at the Cinémathèque française (Paris 12th arrondissement).
It is the Association of naturists of Paris (ANP) which made the request, very quickly accepted by the Cinémathèque.
Because "the naturist is concomitant with the gendarme", smiles Alain Kruger, curator of the exhibition, in reference to certain passages of the "Gendarmes of Saint-Tropez", of which de Funès was the star.
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The mischievous Kruger wondered if he too should come without any textile to welcome them, before having another idea: he is dressed as a gendarme.
This adds to the surrealist atmosphere of this morning reserved for naturists: while men and women of all ages, some of whom have come with their families, stroll through the exhibition, the master of the premises plays the whistle for them. have fun - or make them jump.
On the right, disguised as a gendarme, the curator, Alain Kruger has fun playing the whistle in front of the visitors.
LP / Jean-Baptiste Quentin
The naturists - more than 200 expected in the morning - admire the posters, extracts, sets and cars from Louis de Funès films in the simplest device.
With one detail: sanitary measures oblige, they are all masked, adding to the quirky atmosphere of this visit.
"The mask does not bother me more than when I am dressed", laughs Laurent Luft, president of the ANP.
If he asked for and obtained this special session for his association, it is “because beyond the blink of an eye, there is a friendly relationship between gendarmes and naturists, who, he says, adore this series of films.
"
Laurent Luft puts forward a very personal hypothesis on Louis de Funès: “When you look at his filmography, you see that he was never reluctant to show his body, to be filmed in underwear.
I wouldn't be surprised if I learned that he was a naturist in his private life… ”
"There is a friendly relationship between gendarmes and naturists", assures Laurent Luft, president of the ANP.LP / Jean-Baptiste Quentin
While this "naked" journey is in full swing, a small group of naturists forms in front of the big screen where a compilation of extracts showing Funès dancing in his films is projected.
When the Jewish folk dance scene of "Rabbi Jacob" arrives, they can no longer hold out: here they are, imitating him, but they without the traditional outfit, without any outfit at all.
Astonishing ...
