L'interview (1998)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Xavier Giannoli

Writers:

Jean-Jacques Bernard (story)
Xavier Giannoli (writer)

Genre:

Short

Plot:

Julien Bernardini, a young French journalist, is planning to do an interview by now aged movie-star Ava Gardner...

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Mathieu Amalric	...	Julien
Jean-Marie Winling	...	Jacques
Sophie Varillon
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Philippe Pollet-Villard

Runtime:

25 min

Country:

France

Language:

French | English

Color:

Black and White

Company:

Elizabeth Films

Interesting - legends should be left alone to remain legends (even if it's false!)

In 1989 a French journalist arranges a telephone interview with Ava Gardner and is frustrated when she doesn't call. However hours later her secretary calls to arrange for the journalist to come to London to Ms Gardner's personal home for an interview. He books up space in the magazines and prepares his questions on the ferry. However when he gets to the London address he finds that she wants to be interviewed through the intercom and remembers very little to do with his questions. Based on a true story.

Shot like an old movie this film is the true recollection of the time a journalist went to London to interview Ava Gardner. The film is semi-comical as the man finds himself frustrated by the lack of co-operation from his idol. He begins excited by going to her home or even to talk to her on the phone, but leaves jaded - his image of her tainted forever. She died less than a year later.

The film basically tells us about Gardner as she got older but it also says something about icons generally. If we find out too much then they lose their mystic and become flawed. Wouldn't we rather be left with a handful of images and tales of legend rather than the truth which causes them to lose their shine? This film shows that well in the eyes of the lead actor as he is forced to do a joke of an interview with his icon over the intercom!

The film is well directed with cool black and white working very well. The use of old dialogue from The Barefoot Countessa is very good and generally it's shot well. The lead actor does well to transform childish excitement and elation into a dull disappointment that you can feel through the screen.

Overall this is fascinating because it is a true story of an icon changed by knowledge. However it is also a very good short that has a good idea as it's backbone and delivers it with style.