Suddenly the Amphitheater of the Convention Center vibrated. “And you sing, sing, sing this chorus that you like/And you tap, tap, tap it’s your way of loving/This rhythm that carries you through the end of the night/Awakens in you the whirlwind of ‘a wind of madness. » And Isabelle Huppert entered the room dancing to the chorus of Crazy night (1988), from Early Evening, a “joyful and catchy” piece which set the tone for her stay in Lyon, guest of honor at the Lumière Festival dedicated to heritage cinema and which programmed great restored classics for nine days .
Winner of two acting awards at Cannes (Violette Nozière in 1978 and The Pianist in 2001), two Césars for best actress (The Ceremony in 1996 and Elle in 2017), a special Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2005 and an honorary Golden Bear at the Berlinale in 2022, all that was missing was the Lumière Prize, the Nobel of the seventh art, to his prestigious list. On stage, the director of the Lumière Institute, Thierry Frémaux, hosted the ceremony for two hours, stringing together emotional sequences, as when Julien Clerc took over My preference on the piano while addressing the person concerned. Or during the projection of a video montage showing pieces of bravery from a fifty-year career punctuated by masterpieces.
Several stars made the trip to pay tribute to the queen of the evening: François Ozon and Claire Denis, who directed it, Noémie Merlant, Ludivine Sagnier, Sandrine Kiberlain, Julie Gayet, Emmanuelle Béart, Anthony Delon, Guillaume Gallienne, Vincent Perez, Camélia Jordana, Laurent Gerra, the ambassadors of French horror cinema Alexandre Aja and Coralie Fargeat (screenplay prize at the Cannes Film Festival for The Substance), the Mexican Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity), the American James Franco (Spider-Man)…
Applauded wildly by the 2,000 spectators when they walked the red carpet to the notes of The Ecstasy of GoldEnnio Morricone’s famous theme for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966), by Sergio Leone, the anthem of the demonstration. Irène Jacob and Iris Knobloch, presidents respectively of the Lumière Institute and the Cannes Festival, were also present, joined the next day by the Minister of Culture Rachida Dati.
“Yes, I like receiving prizes, which serve to calm turbulent artists but above all to say that we have not worked for nothing”
Resplendent in a sparkling long dress, surrounded by her husband Ronald Chammah and her two sons, Lorenzo and Angelo, Isabelle Huppert exulted at the microphone. “What did I do to deserve this?” It’s just cinema! Usually, I learn other people’s texts by heart. There, I’m going to read mine. » Before asserting with humor: “Yes, I like receiving prizes, which serve to calm turbulent artists but above all to say that we have not worked for nothing. So here I am in full light. »
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She had already come in 2012 to introduce Tony Garnier to the Hall Heaven’s Gate (1980), by Michael Cimino, with Kris Kristofferson, who died on September 28. Recalling eight months of epic filming in Montana alongside the American director, “who found in Lyon the recognition that he had hoped for all his life in the United States”. Isabelle Huppert willingly followed the usual route: retrospective of her films, signing session, masterclass, press conference, prestigious dinner at the Hôtel-de-Ville, inauguration of her plaque on the wall of the Lumière Institute and filming of the remake of The exit from the Lumière factory in Lyon (1895), the first short film to be screened in history.
To the improvised guest extras, she issued her instructions through the megaphone, scrambling to get the best take. “One day, I witnessed an extraordinary scene in Australia, on a small island off the coast of Sydney to see the penguins, which migrate to the other side of the world, coming out of the water. We sit on a bench at night, in the cold and a very mysterious atmosphere, the Moon lights up this beautiful ballet to tears. One by one, the birds emerge from the sea. So I had the idea of having the people parade here, at Lumière, in single file so that we can clearly see them. »
“Of course I’m disappointed when I don’t win! »
Isabelle Huppert captivated her audience in all circumstances. In particular by indicating that she was not going to hang up any time soon. “I still feel pleasure, I don’t see why I would stop. In addition, I play easily, I don’t like effort unlike others. But I have the one from work! And always with people who supported and enthused me, I am very lucky. » About the Lumière Prize, she admitted to being “very troubled”. “But there are worse things than hearing compliments!” This goes beyond me because we mainly talk about films to which I made a small contribution. A reward encourages and gives self-confidence. Of course I’m disappointed when I don’t win. »
As funny as she is, Isabelle Huppert has no shortage of punchlines: “I operate on pure intuition”, “I’m afraid of elevators, but not of the unknown”, “I never doubt because you can’t please everyone”… Before concluding with a joke: “What if the best moment of the Lumière Festival was ultimately the brunch? I didn’t have breakfast and I’m super hungry! (Laughs) »
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