‘I STOPPED DYEING MY HAIR, AND ALLOWED THE WHITE TO COME THROUGH'
en years
Legendary French film actress Bernadette Lafont tells Tom Dawson how great it is to still be making movies
he veteran lirench actress Bernadette Lafont is casting her mind back 5() years and recalling her lirst ever lilm role. It was in a short called
Les Misroiis (The Brats). made by a tyro filmmaker called Francois 'l'ruffaut. Shot in her hometown of
Nimes. the story was about a beautiful young woman (Lafont) being pestered by a group of adolescent boys. A year later Lafont starred in (‘laude (‘habrol‘s bleak vision of provincial life [.0 Hum Surge. and the Nouvelle Vague was launched.
‘We had no idea we were making history.‘ explains the robust 69—year-old Lafont. on a recent trip to London‘s lnstitut l‘rancais. people between the ages of IX and 25. who wanted to make films. We were lucky because we coincided with technological advances: the new faster film stock and lighter cameras meant you could shoot outside. Suddenly we had the freedom to do all this stuff we hadn't been able to do before.‘
'l‘hroughout the l‘)o()s and l‘)7(ls Lafont continued to work with auteurs such as Rivette. .\lal|e and Jean litistache in the epic relationship drama [A Human er lu l’uruin. the film that brought down the curtain on the New Wave movement. Was Lafont aware of how groundlu'eaking these films were'.’
‘Not at the time.’ she smiles. “It was thanks to critics. journalists and festivals. and above all the public. People would tell you that your films had transformed their lives. You learn that once you‘ve finished a film. it no longer belongs to you.‘
Lafont delivers a superb performance in an absorbing new road movie I.cs‘ Petites lumnccx from writer~director ()livier Peyon. Playing an ex-teacher.
‘We were a handful of
Danielle. taking her two grandchildren on an impromptu summer holiday. the actress shows how. beneath her character‘s practical-minded facade. there lies an emotionally fragile woman. scared she no longer has a purpose in life.
‘To me the part represented a challenge.‘ explains Lafont. ‘I feel strong and healthy and Danielle is quite feeble she has these fainting spells. I decided to play her naturally. so one of the first things I stopped doing was dyeing my hair. and allowing the white to come tltt‘otlgh.’
‘There is something of a taboo in the cinema of
showing women of a certain age.' she continues. 'What I found interesting about 14's l’r'litr's' liit'um'r's‘ is it showed somebody. who fears she is about to be pensioned off. It‘s the last trip she‘s going to make with the kids. because by next year they‘ll be going on the train themselves. That‘s what tips her over: you're not sure what she's going to do. When she attacks the ferret with a broom. you're worried that she might turn on the kids.‘
Since shooting I.“ I’clllcs lilr‘um‘t's‘. Lalonl has completed '/.oe (‘assavetes' debut feature Broken English and a marital comedy with (‘harlotte (lainsbourg. I’I'clc-mul la main. And she's delighted that directors such as Peyon have been inspired to make films because of the trail bla/ed by the New Wave pioneers. ‘lt‘s great to feel that continuin through time. and that people are still interested in things you did at the beginning of your career.’
Les Petites Vacances, GFT, Glasgow, Fri 10-Mon 13 Aug.
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