Catherine Deneuve and Thomas Dumerchez in Après Lui Courtesy of Fox Searchlight/Fox France

Q&A: Catherine Deneuve

The iconic French actress delves into her role as a grieving mother in Après Lui, which is being presented at Cannes.

by Sophie Grassin

Catherine Deneuve is Camille in Après Lui, Gaël Morel's new drama, which is being presented in the "Directors' Fortnight" section at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. After the sudden death of her son (Adrien Jolivet) in a car accident, Camille refuses to accept this brutal loss and pours the overflow of her love onto her son's best friend.

PREMIERE: Why did you decide to take this role?

Catherine Deneuve: I did it for [director] Gaël Morel. I met him while I was working on Les Roseaux Sauvages with André Téchiné. The content of the film is both serious and common just like my character. Camille transfers the love she had for her son onto his best friend. She tries to turn death into life; a life she can live and sense concretely. She wants to continue being a mother for this young man.

Still you hesitated to accept this part?

The shooting was lots of fun but I was afraid of the impact this role would have on me. I thought I wouldn't be strong enough to embody this character and that it would be too hard for me to endure this suffering day after day. And even if Gaël Morel doesn't show the accident onscreen, it reminds me of how my sister Françoise Dorléac died, on a road in the South of France. You know, I don't like mixing personal experiences with fiction... It's indecent.

This movie is a drama but the opening scene is a very happy moment.

True. In this scene, I put on some make-up for the two boys because they're going to a party. This is my only scene with Adrien (Jolivet) and the only scene we can be seen together [in]. It had to be a merry and sunny day, A day like another. Remains of the past.

Why was a song by Beth Gibbons of Portishead chosen?

Because it's what Gaël wanted. Plus I find Beth Gibbons's voice extremely moving. I also like Madeleine Peyroux a lot.

You work with many young directors. Who else would you like to work with?

Lucas Belvaux, Cédric Kahn, Xavier Giannoli, Cédric Klapisch, Pierre Salvadori, Jérôme Bonnell. There are quite a few.