Audrey Lamy and John Wax talk about the filming of “In Flip-Flops at the Feet of the Himalayas”, a dramatic comedy which tells the daily life of a mother of an autistic child, with an approach full of humanity.
RTL info: Audrey Lamy and John Wax, you have come to present to us your new film “In flip-flops at the feet of the Himalayas”, a film which mixes drama and comedy. It tells the story of Pauline, a mother of a little autistic boy named Andrea. She fights for her son to be integrated, especially at school. It’s a compendium of emotions and laughter. John Wax, this film is inspired by “Alone on stage” by Marie-Odile Weiss. What made you want to adapt it for the cinema?
John Wax : It’s because I attended the only performance, just before the theaters closed due to Covid. I was really touched and I laughed. She’s basically a friend, so I already knew her life well. I wanted to tell his story and I immediately saw the ingredients of a good film. I proposed the idea to her, she accepted, and I was delighted.
Precisely, Audrey, you play Pauline, a mother overwhelmed by events. What attracted you to this role?
Audrey Lamy : Several things. First of all, John and I already knew each other. We had worked together on a film called “Coexistence” with Fabrice Eboué, and we really wanted to work together again. When John offered me the role, I had no idea what it was about. Since John mainly comes from comedy, I was expecting something funny. But I was extremely touched and moved by the story, by its depth and its authenticity. This role provokes reflection and empathy for this mother who, herself, is not totally independent and autonomous, but who will learn to guide her son towards autonomy.
I myself am a mother of two children, so, of course, I don’t experience what my character experiences, but the story touched me a lot. John, in addition to writing, found a balance by respecting this complex subject while bringing humor, love and optimism, with characters who revolve around Pauline, who are extremely funnylike that of Benjamin, which bring a certain lightness and make the subject accessible to the public.
Autism is a difficult subject to approach without falling into caricature. How did you work to embody this character and to properly balance the approach to this theme?
Audrey Lamy : This comes first and foremost through writing. What I really liked was that it was realistic. We do not avoid obstacles or scenes that are a little harsh, violent or even brutal. But there is a real concern to treat the subject gently, and I think that humor allows us to think while lightening the subject a little for the viewer who is not familiar with this subject. Before this film, I had total ignorance about autism, and I learned a lot by educating myself. We worked with Marie-Odile, co-author with John, who was present on the set to guide and orient us. This allowed me to let myself be carried away by the role of this mother.
Also in the film is Aiden Lopez, who plays six-year-old Andrea. It is overwhelming. How did you find it?
John Wax : Thanks to Johanne Borderie, the children’s casting director, who is also a coach. She sorted through hundreds of candidates. Ultimately, we had two very different profiles of children, and we did well to choose Aiden. He has a great capacity for concentration and professionalism for his age. We worked in advance, in particular with Marie-Odile, and showed her videos of her son to teach him the gestures, the look, the gait, specific to autism. As soon as we said “action”, he got into the character, changed his look, his approach. We almost never had to reshoot the shots, he was exceptional.
Audrey Lamy : Everything rests on him. If you don’t believe in the character of the little boy, you’re missing out on the film.
Some scenes between you are very intense, and even violent. How did you approach them with Aiden, who is only six years old in the film?
Audrey Lamy : I was a little apprehensive, but he showed incredible professionalism. He’s a real actor! He was excited to be on set, which isn’t always the case with young actors. Sometimes, we feel that it is the parents who push the children a little to act in films. Outside of takes, I created an affectionate relationship with him. He’s my son’s age, so there was a lot of tenderness and cuddling between scenes. We wanted to treat this story with authenticity and respect.
Audrey, we know you in lighter and comic roles. Is this a more serious register that you wish to explore in the years to come?
Audrey Lamy : Little by little, yes. It’s true that I like to move towards slightly different subjects. I have already done “The Invisibles”, “The Brigade”, and I like to deal with deeper subjects, with more mature characters. This role particularly attracted me because it allowed me to play a very wide range of emotions. Pauline is both lost and determined, vulnerable and resilient. It’s a very rich palette, and it’s a real pleasure for an actress.
Audrey Lamy cinema film John Wax director
