Schmitt and Piovani for “lessons in happiness”
One of the most highly read authors of contemporary French literature, and already adapted for cinema (François Dupeyron’s Monsieur Ibrahim), Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt made his directorial debut Odette Toulemonde from his short story (see interview from the set of the film in 2006).
The film – to be released in Italy Lezioni di felicità [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (“Lessons on Happiness”) on March 7 by Videa-CDE – tells the story of a Paris writer in the midst of a marital and creative crisis, who upon meeting a passionate Belgian reader of his novels – the Odette of the title, played by Catherine Frot – will get back his self-esteem along with his love of life.
The autobiographical element dates back a few years. “One day I was autographing my books,” remembers the author, “when I met a woman just like the main character in the film. She managed to stutter just a few words before leaving me a letter on the table. I read it a few hours later, more out of boredom than interest, and I felt ashamed for having judged her behaviour as ridiculous. Her message was magnificent.” This does not mean, however, that the writer he depicts (played by Albert Dupontel) is based on him: “I would have created a very different depiction of myself. And he doesn’t resemble Bernard-Henri Lévy either, as some might think”.
Despite his philosophical and intellectual renown, Schmitt decided to debut with a surreal comedy. “My first contact with cinema was Walt Disney, and I still think that one can love both Kant and cartoons. I don’t like the conceit with which some intellectuals condemn pop culture. That’s why I wanted Nicola Piovani for the music. As a musician he is both popular and sophisticated.”
The Italian composer, who won an Oscar for Roberto Benigni’s Life is Beautiful, explains the essence of his work on this film: “The script called for several songs by Joséphine Baker, whom Odette loves dearly. So I tried to create a score that went well with that music. There are already too many films full of great songs that have nothing to do with one another!”
(Translated from Italian)
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