Rigor, a former gendarmerie captain, is irresistible as a grandfather, alongside Olivier Marchal in "Papi Sitter", by Philippe Guillard. On the other hand, today's society makes Gérard Lanvin, 69, a little less laughing. And as usual, the one who had two Caesars (best actor in 1995 for "The Favorite Son" and best actor in a supporting role for "The Taste of Others" in 2001) that he never went to look for, don't mince words.
How was this film born?
GERARD LANVIN. It goes back ten years. On "Le Fils à Jo" (Editor's note: in 2011) , with Olivier (Editor's note: Marchal) and Philippe (Editor's note Guillard, the director) , we lived in the same house. There was a character who intrigued me and whom I observed. A former captain of the gendarmerie. He was the father of Philippe, a widower for a long time and full of little old man's fads. I said to Guillard: One day, I will have to write me a role like that but not right away, let me age a little .
Are you in this character?
I do not have this military rigor but I have a rigor on the behaviors. I was rigid about the values, when I saw my children shaking hands with someone without looking the person in the eye, I intervened. I tried to teach them righteousness. To be correct with others. To say what they think. Everything you don't see anymore. It is my success, but it is sure that you pass for a nutcracker! ( smile )
What grandpa are you?
I have a ten year old daughter with whom I get along very well. She has a touch of madness herself. Our trades want this. In addition with Manu (note: his son, musician) , we live in music. We don't have an ordinary life. There is always a little oufferie ( sic ). Suddenly, the little one, she saw us crazy and she is with us as an accomplice.
Did you graduate?
No. I had no ambition to study, I already had the life of a fairground that my maternal grandfather had shown me. I sold American second-hand clothes at the Puces de Saint-Ouen. That's how I met Coluche, Martin Lamotte, Roland Giraud ... Then, we transformed a carpentry called "The Widow Pichard, serious house" to build a Café-theater. We couldn't do things like that anymore.
We hardly see you in the media and yet your popularity is intact…
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Networks, all that, I don't know. But look, it's the same for Dany ( Editor's note, Boon ), with whom I am very friendly, or Olivier Marchal. They are ultra-popular! We don't need to prove anything to people. They love us in relation to our attitudes, to our silences too. This is better than a Caesar or anything. Besides, it's starting to screw up…
Precisely, what is your opinion on the ceremony last Friday?
It was run in advance. I can talk about it without any problem because I had two and I would be called jealous, otherwise. In any case, they are of no use to me. This is not what made directors of so-called elitist cinema call me!
Are the Caesars an elitist manifestation in your eyes?
The Césars cinema yes. There is no popular comedy. We try to put on a comedy to make it a spectacle that is boring like death. Let’s stop talking to me about a cinema “party”. Me, I excluded myself all alone. I did not go to get my two Caesars because I do not assume the word "best".
What about the Polanski case?
It's a complicated mess. Here is a man who made films for twenty years and nobody opened his mouth, yet the problem already existed. If the film crew had come, they would have shown that they supported the work. But by not coming she supported the man and there, it becomes their problem because I, personally, Polanski, I don't give a damn. I met him five times in my life, he never said hello to me. On the other hand, I agree with women. They react and that's good. I am on their side.
Have you never wanted to write a screenplay?
I had an idea, I gave it to someone else to rewrite. I didn't drop it because I trust it. This idea was stolen from me. So what I have to say to those who have done this is, "If you have children and you educate them that way, don't come and make me think you are smart parents because your attitude is shit. "