Worn by Benjamin Voisin, César for best male hopeful in 2022, “L’Esprit Coubertin” by Jérémie Sein offers a glimpse of a burlesque vision of the Paris Games. Meeting with the actor and the director.
The Games are approaching and unless you live in a cave, it is difficult to miss the event. While the eyes of the whole world will soon be turned towards France, L’Esprit Coubertin arrives at the right time at the cinema. This feature film, the first from its director, Jérémie Sein, follows an athlete like no other, Paul Bosquet, a shooting pro. As the character, Benjamin Voisin creates a clumsy, burlesque and endearing hero.
The starting point of this project is just as crazy as the film itself. It was an article on the large number of condoms distributed to athletes at the Beijing Games that inspired the filmmaker – also co-writer with Mathias Gavarry. By intervening in the micro-society of athletes in full turmoil, Jérémie Sein imagines a character unsuitable for the outside world.
Avenue B Productions (from left to right): Benjamin Voisin, Emmanuelle Bercot, Grégoire Ludig and Laura Felpin.
The inspiration behind this Paul Bosquet? “My tastes for Adam McKay comedies, the English series The Office and Napoleon Dynamite, which is one of my favorite films”, explains the director. This hero also has a look all his own. To imagine its appearance, the director clings to The Simpsons: “The characters in the series are portrayed to perfection, with their well-defined characteristics. I work like that, I pay attention to the haircut, the costume. Paul, I had imagined him as a space ranger but lame.”
As soon as there is a risk, I go for it. I can enjoy myself or freak out.
And to bring this “to life”store space but sucks”, Benjamin Voisin gives his all. In order to play Paul Bosquet, the actor had the image of the giraffe in mind. “For his bovine look, his very slow way of eating and his way of constantly fleeing”, he explains. The actor – César winner in 2022 for Illusions Perdues – was seduced by the tone of the scenario. “As soon as there is a risk, I go for it. I can enjoy myself or freak out.”
A prophetic comedy
He pursues : “I like what Jérémie Sein offers: it’s a learning story. Stupidity when it is naive and asks to open up with curiosity, it is very beautiful. It’s not crass nonsense.” On screen, the actor is surrounded by Emmanuelle Bercot as an explosive coach, but also Laura Felpin, Grégoire Ludig and Rivaldo Pawawi – for whom this is the very first role.
In many ways, The Coubertin Spirit has a prophetic dimension. The film addresses issues in today’s society – even bedbugs – and also makes fun of the institution that The Games represent. “We have the right to make fun if we know the field we are writing aboutadds Jérémie Sein. I am an absolute sports fan and the Games are among my first TV memories, so I believe that to allow yourself to make fun, you need a keen eye, otherwise you lose yourself..”
Comments collected by Thomas Desroches, at Alpe d’Huez, in January 2024.
L’Esprit Coubertin is currently in cinemas.
