“My career as a director would have gone faster if I had agreed to make an autobiographical film”

Meeting point near the Forum des Halles, in Paris. With his cap screwed on his head, Julien Colonna appears relaxed. The director of Kingdom is the son of the late Jean-Jé Colonna, nicknamed “the last Corsican godfather” and for some Corsicans embodying the “bandit of honor”.

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For his first film, co-written with Jeanne Herry (I will always see your faces ), Julien Colonna recounts the escape of a thug father and his daughter in Corsica in the 1990s. Last May, he shook the Croisette in the Un certain regard section. His name quickly appeared on the map of aspiring directors.

LE FIGARO. – You were selected at the Cannes Film Festival where you received a very enthusiastic welcome. Quite a baptism of fire, no ?

JULIEN COLONNA. – There was indeed that. In feeling, anyway. When, suddenly, you receive a phone call confirming your selection in Cannes. The dream comes true. This legitimizes perseverance and pugnacity. What's more, the reception in Cannes was astonishing. Almost ten minutes of standing ovation…