His "Aline" was to be the cinema event this fall.
This breathtaking Celine Dion biopic won't hit theaters on November 11 as planned.
Valérie Lemercier, who signs this ultra-ambitious feature film in which she plays the singer from her 7 to 50 years, reacts to the closure of places welcoming the public, and therefore cinemas, following new health restrictions.
When did you realize that "Aline" could not be released in theaters?
VALÉRIE LEMERCIER.
Last Thursday, I was told that there would be a tightening of health restrictions.
I had the “Children of TV” questionnaire in hand to prepare for the show I was supposed to shoot the next day and I understood that I would not record it.
I wandered around my house in my coat, I thought about all those happy previews that we had with the film and I thought to myself, “This is all falling apart.
But I am very fatalistic.
As Shakespeare says: “What cannot be avoided, must be embraced.
»So I wait ...
Were you very excited to show the film?
I was eager to shoot it and then eager to show it.
There, 11,000 people have already seen "Aline" during the previews.
What makes me happy is that this is a film about a popular singer and, for now, it has been seen by a "real" audience, not by the top pick at a preview. official premiere.
Would you have liked cinemas to benefit from an exemption and remain open?
Yes, I would have liked it because in a movie theater, when we are all masked, no one opens their mouths, it's not like a birthday party where we pass glasses or firecrackers.
But I'm not trying to get special treatment.
And I see around me a lot of sick people… I receive messages of condolence in relation to my film, people come to see me with funeral heads.
But we're like everyone else, even if the entertainment industry is very touched.
And then, it is better that the film is not released than that it leaves and that the theaters close at that time.
Will “Aline” be released as soon as theaters reopen?
I do not know.
Someone mentioned the hypothesis of waiting a year: I can't see myself waiting that long… I would like the film to be released on December 23 because I love Christmas and I love the number 5 , like Celine Dion.
But if I am involved in all that is artistic, I leave it to my producers and distributors for the choice of the release date.
In the meantime, I will finish the credits, to which I must add the names of 7,400 people who worked on the film in four different countries.
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Have you considered releasing "Aline" on a platform?
It was “more” than offered to my producer and I am delighted that he refused.
The platforms are just waiting for us to "pick up" us ... But I'm not for "Aline" to skip the cinema box.
It's a film that is important to see in theaters, on a large scale: it's like Celine's concerts, you have to see them for real.
The film was due out in Quebec on November 27 ...
It won't be released there either because the cinemas are closed there.
Eventually, "Aline" may be released at the same time in France, Switzerland and Belgium.
What will give Celine Dion time to see the film?
It's been almost a year since we told those around her that she could see him whenever she wanted… I hope she will see him before my death
(smile)
!