Religion, terrorism, depression... and even suicide: he laughs at almost everything.
Jérémy Ferrari, a “
black but deeply social
”
humourist
, has risen to the top of the French comedy scene in 15 years.
AFP meets him a few days before the 200th performance of his show
Anesthesia Générale
, which toured throughout France for four years and whose epilogue is scheduled for this weekend at the Accor Arena in Paris.
For those who were unable to obtain tickets, the two dates being full, i.e. 20,000 places in total, the 38-year-old comedian, born Jérémy Larzillière, has everything planned: the show (three hours!) will be broadcast live at cinema Sunday afternoon.
Also read: Jérémy Ferrari pays tribute to Guillaume Bats, whom he considers “his little brother”
More than 300,000 people will have seen this one-man show, his record.
“
I’m going to be sad to leave this show but it’s without regrets ,
”
he confides, saying
“
I feel like I’ve made it to the end
.
”
“
There is sadness because it is my most personal show but I am also turning a page in my life ,
”
he assures.
“Not elitist”
After the success of
Hallelujah Brothel
, about religions, and
Sell 2
pieces in Beirut
, about war and terrorism, the comedian took control of his health.
In a presentation, he recounts his psychological disorders, his past addictions (especially alcohol) and his suicide attempt, without forgetting Covid-19.
All in a playful tone.
Suicide attempts?
“
It’s common in my family ,
”
he says to the audience, who holds their breath for a split second, before bursting out laughing.
Also read “You have to lock me up and take care of me”: Jérémy Ferrari recounts his suicide attempt in “A Sunday in the Country”
“
When I have to deal with the Bataclan
(the attacks of November 13, 2015, Editor's note
), two months after the events, and I decide to go 100
%, well at that precise moment, I'm terrified because if it doesn't Don't worry, my career is ruined.
It’s a personal challenge ,
”
he observes.
He brings his art closer to that of cinema stuntmen, and other comedians who were not afraid to divide.
“
I don't compare myself to Coluche, but the people who tell me that my humor is not unifying, that it is too divisive, I wonder if they have seen Coluche's sketches,
”
he asks. .
His genre ?
“
Black and social ,
”
he answers, he who comes from a modest background and grew up in the Ardennes.
“
I am one of the comedians who come from the people and who speak to the people.
I think I'm not elitist at all
.
"
Action against the AIMF,
sketch taken from Jérémy Ferrari's second show
Vends 2
pièces à Beirut
.
Also producer
When AFP asked him if the multiple provocations in his shows caused him difficulties, Jérémy Ferrari did not evade.
“
Yes, there were some cautious people ,
”
he admits, ensuring that he never rewrote the slightest sketch under pressure.
“
I did everything on instinct, that’s how I work
.
”
The fact remains that to guarantee his freedom, the comedian produces himself.
“
I’m very much in control ,
”
he admits, saying he likes to have his hands on everything.
He also became the producer of young shoots like Laura Laune or Arnaud Tsamere.
A workaholic, he performs with the latter, and with Baptiste Lecaplain, on sold-out tours.
According to him,
“
Money always trumps fear, so if you're scary, but you're very profitable, they end up letting you talk.
I always said that it was the public who supported me
.
”
It is on this audience that he is counting for his upcoming projects, including an upcoming show on ecology.
Before that, he will be starring in a thriller with Golshifteh Farahani in a few months.
A first for the comedian who admits to having been asked on numerous occasions to act in films and had until now always declined because the scenarios did not
“
excite
”
him .
Never better served than by oneself, he also wrote a film, currently
“
in the process of being financed
”
.