With Peter Von Kant, out in cinemas this Wednesday, July 6, François Ozon returns to his first love, the theatrical huis-clos. Like Potiche and 8 Femmes, the director's 21st feature film is a festival of exuberant, delightful characters. But this time, the project is of particular importance to François Ozon. It's a remake of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant:"Fassbinder is a filmmaker whose work has always haunted me," said Ozon in a statement.
In this 1972 film, we meet Petra Von Kant, a fashion designer living with her assistant Marlene, who meets and falls in love with Karine, a young woman. In François Ozon's film, these three main characters become men, and we move from the world of fashion to that of cinema. Peter Von Kant is a filmmaker who finds his new love in Amir, and will do anything to introduce him to the world of cinema. But faced with a fickle, profiteering young man (synonym), the excessive filmmaker will soon see his ardor put to the test.
Denis Ménochet(Grâce à Dieu, Jusqu'à la Garde, L'empereur de Paris) plays this mad, angry, emotional and madly in love filmmaker. In this magnificent counterpoint, the actor is inhabited, his mood swings permeate the film and amuse. Opposite him, we discover Khalil Gharbia's first film role. The young man, discovered in the series Skam, captures the attention of both the characters and the viewer, who discover a talent we can expect to see more of in the years to come. The whole cast is a sight to behold. Alongside them, Stefan Crepon, Isabelle Adjani and Hanna Schygulla are just as crazy. Shot in just a handful of weeks, the film required the actors to spend long days together, which increased their complicity tenfold. And it's clear on screen.
Peter Von Kant 's vivid colors and mannerisms are a delight in every scene. Grandiloquent and exuberant, the film never ceases to play on the ridiculousness of the situations it exposes, while remaining tragic. François Ozon's tour de force is quite a feat. You can even discover it as part of the Fête du cinéma!
The trailer :
Interviews :
