Christian Clavier: “I have always loved interpreting French people”

What We Did to the Good Lord returns Sunday evening on TF1. In 2016, its star reflected on this success in the pages of Première.

On the occasion of the rebroadcast of What have we done to the good Lord?this Sunday on TF1we are republishing some extracts from our interview with Christian Claviermet in 2016 to talk about Visitors 3. The actor returned to the great success of Philippe de Chauveron’s comedy, at a time when its sequel had not yet started filming. Since then, a 3rd part, What have we all done to the good Lord? was released in 2021.

Your relationship with the French is very particular and we feel that this is what which you likeît above all else.

Yes. I have always loved interpreting French people. I am passionate about the ironic, critical and extraordinarily empathetic view that I have on them – and that they have on me. It’s a round trip. There is nothing pretentious in what I am telling you. This is my relationship with the public. That said, there are more and more people abroad who appreciate these films. Visitors was relaunched by the extraordinary success of What have we done to the Good Lord? on the international market. The German, Greek or Italian audience has the same type of relationship with my characters as the French. French comedy, very French, works elsewhere.

How do you explain that you crossed borders in this way?

In What have we done to the Good Lord?, Claude Verneuil, my character, is very “central France” and, at the same time, his problem is universal. The relationship between boss and employee is found everywhere. But it’s weird. I find your question curious. I have the impression that you have a very reductive point of view on the French. And on our country. I could be wrong but I don’t think so… Whether we talk about its values, its principles, its history or its culture, France has a very important influence. It’s not surprising that a French character works abroad. I find your astonishment amusing, because I have the impression that it reflects a complex about what we are. The film was sold all over the world simply because it was called Bastille Day.

Christian Clavier is the only actor to have passed 10 million admissions at the box office 4 times

Do you really compartmentalize the profession of actor and author?
I love to improvise. I don’t separate the professions of actor and author. I bring something and the director keeps it or not. Answering questions about my life bores me, talking about my job excites me. It’s not a posture, it’s not to show off. I tell you this sincerely. That’s what interests me. This is how I work: I always bring the little author’s thing that I have in my head and then the director does what he wants with it. At first, Philippe (de Chauveron) was surprised and ultimately he kept a lot of ideas in What have we done to the Good Lord? I try to find something joyful to get to the end of the character. That’s what I like the most: going to the end of the character, as I would like, as an author, to be served by the actor. With Jacquouille, I created a character who no longer even resembled me physically. My complicity with Jean-Marie and with Philippe was built on this. And the fact that they are customers.

How does the meeting occur between
a character and an actor?

It’s complicated… Interesting but complicated. It’s all about technique. The costume is very important for example and everything comes into play when I see myself in the mirror. Afterwards you have to be. To go inside. And trust the author. Because as an actor, I only know how to do one thing: “learn the meaning of sentences” (my teacher Tsilla Chelton said it). The basis for me is to know my text completely on the first day. My text and that of others. I’ve worked a lot and I’m arriving on set. And when I arrive, I’m empty. I forget everything. I’m so into it that it allows me to improvise.

I am going to give you an example. When we turn the Good God, Philippe asks me if I want to meet the actors who play my sons-in-law. But I refuse. I think they have the chips to tour with me and that if they see me, they will realize that I am not a bad guy, they will relax. And you shouldn’t… So, the first day was hell. During makeup, after a long hesitation, Medi said to me in a very small voice: “…You are very beautiful. » And I answer: “Thank you my little one, that’s nice. » We started with the exact tone of my character with his sons-in-law. I brought the situation to them. That’s the game.

The joy of this profession is there. And I prefer to talk about this subject rather than being asked if I am unhappy to encounter failure. Am I? Obviously. Am I happy to have success? Yes… but not as much as you imagine. If success feels good, it’s just because it allows us to shoot a new film. When a film doesn’t work, it’s complicated to continue, contrary to what people say… We achieved a decent result with Operation Corned Beefbut when just afterwards we proposed Visitors which costs 15 million francs more, Gaumont must think. And that seems completely normal to me.

During this long interview, Christian Clavier also looked back on his cult films The Bronzed, Santa Clause is garbage And Visitors. It can be read in full below:

Christian Clavier: “Many people find it complicated to interview me”