"Because I'm French, the Israelis thought I had no problem undressing"
"Paris Boutique", an Israeli comedy that airs this weekend, features Nelly Tagar and French actress Josephine Drey in the lead roles.
In an interview, she tells why after starring in a series on Netflix it was important for her to star in an Israeli film, and what prejudices she had to bear because of it
Avner Shavit
22/06/2022
Wednesday, 22 June, 2022, 00:00 Updated: 00:02
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Trailer for the movie "Paris Boutique" (United King)
In the history of Israeli cinema, there is a long list of films made in Israel starring French actresses.
It started with Veronica Wendell in "Dalia and the Sailors," and continued with Brigitte Cation in "Moments," with Lia Saidou and Juliette Binoche in Amos Gitai's films and with Fanny Arden in Avi Nesher's "Sins," and of course there are other names.
Now, Josephine Drey, who stars alongside Nelly Tagar in "Boutique Paris", which is coming out this weekend, after a long delay due to the Corona, is also joining this legacy.
As the name implies, Drey plays a Parisian who comes to Israel to close a real estate deal. Her taxi driver breezes, sending his estranged wife, played by Nelly Tagar. And a happier encounter with a sensual and mysterious man played by Angel Bonnie.
Drey is an experienced actress, comedian and musician, who among other things starred in the series "Love for One Night", available on Netflix.
She is Jewish, with a distant family in Israel, but has never worked here and also had no special plans to do so.
The connection to the blue-and-white film happened by chance, when she was working with French producer Georges Benayoun on another project, and he linked her to Marco Carmel, director of "Paris Boutique", who was looking for a French actress.
The film has a bit of French, quite a bit of Hebrew and a lot of English - the language in which the two protagonists communicate.
"That's one of the reasons I wanted the job," says Drey in a zoom interview ahead of the rise of "Paris Boutique" in Israel.
"It was for me an opportunity to play in a different language, to challenge myself and try something different, in the hope that I would have more such roles. The whole project was an adventure for me. I was the only Frenchwoman on the team, and this is the first time this has happened to me."
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From the City of Lights to the Holy City.
Josephine Drey (right) with Nelly Tagar in "Paris" (Photo: Damien Dupren)
By virtue of being the French ambassador in photography, Deri had to deal with the prejudices that exist here about her people's daughters.
"There was a sex scene, which also had frontal nudity. When Marco told me that, I told him it did not bother me, and then the whole team said in response 'Of course it does not bother you, because you are French, and French women spread without a problem,'" she says.
"I was shocked, and it quite upset me, what's more everyone without exception was sure of it. I explained to them - my approach to nudity in such situations is an individual matter, and it does not affect all Frenchness. I really do not understand where it comes from. Maybe you will explain Lee. Is it because of Brigitte Bardot?
"Besides, everyone in the production liked to laugh at the French who immigrated to Israel, for going around the same places, for example Bograshov, and continuing to speak French in Israel as well.
This is probably true, and if I had immigrated to Israel, I would have been a different animal.
I would rather try to integrate into the local company. "
"Very different, and much more spontaneous. In France, everything is organized in advance. In Israel, the night before the filming, I was not sure what would happen the next day. It was a bit challenging, but there were also positive sides to it."
"I was shocked."
Josephine Drey (Photo: Emily Chopina)
Drey also found that Israel is more easily supported than France.
"After this week's premiere, Hannah Leslau approached me and complimented me on the game show. I think you're flattered more directly, and also start with girls more directly," she says.
"In France, until a guy has the courage to approach you, you have already gone home. In Israel, they are not shy at all. They look at you and smile and if you smile back, they just come, and start talking to you as if you have known each other for years. They do not shy away at all."
What was it like to shoot in Jerusalem?
"We filmed in places with a religious population, and I was not modestly dressed at all. There were also moments when I lifted my skirt to put in the microphone, and religious people would look at me. We had to shoot with a hidden camera some of the scenes in the church. Overall it was an extraordinary experience, and I enjoyed it. is very".
Although the film takes place in Jerusalem and brings together French and Israeli, with all the cultural gaps between them, it could just as well have been a story about a Japanese and a Chilean meeting in New York, and Carmel presents here a universal story about the power of friendship.
"I think friendship is something powerful, that transcends gender," Drey says.
"I have friends and I have friendships, and I do not see a difference in the type of relationship. Unlike many and many, I believe there can be platonic friendships between a man and a woman, that there should be no gray areas. I also think that contrary to myth, women can be friends and not compete or envy "Each other, and I believe that men can talk to each other about feelings. Friendship is a universal concept, which does not depend on one identity or another."
"Hannah Leslau came over and complimented me."
Josephine Drey at the Paris Boutique (Photo: Damien Dupren)
How was working with Nelly Tagar?
"We connected immediately. We are both comedians, and we have a similar and fast energy. Nelly took care of me with a warm welcome. I was alone in Israel, and she invited me to do Shabbat with her. I also love her family very much."
Do you prefer to do things together or alone?
"Depends on what. I hate shopping at Chevruta. I hate waiting for people, and I hate waiting in general. I'm very impatient."
The film describes how having a chance encounter with a stranger can change your life.
Has this happened to you in reality?
"Yes, I once met an attractive guy in Marseille. He told me he was writing music, and looking for more new songs. I told him I had written a few of these. It was a complete lie because he was attractive to me and I wanted an excuse to see him again. So I started writing music just because of him, And then I went on with it, and that's how it turned out that my musical career started just because I met a cute guy. "
"My musical career only started because I wanted to make an impression on a guy."
Josephine Drey (Photo: Emily Chopina)
Dray is the living spirit behind "Paris Boutique" and adds a lot of charm and class to it.
She does good to the film and he did her good as well, and also made her want to participate in other country-made productions.
"I miss Israel very much, every time I return to France I cry," she says.
"I would like to develop my relationship with Israel, learn Hebrew and be involved in other projects in the country."
The movie is called Paris Boutique, so I have to ask what is your favorite store in Paris.
"In Paris in particular? I can also tell about shops in Tel Aviv. My favorite thing in the world is ice cream. When I was in Israel, I ate ice cream twice a day, and I think I already know all the ice cream parlors in Tel Aviv."
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