An enjoyable comedy that scrapes the veneer of social conventions and their supposed common sense! Iristhe series created by Doria Tillier, available on MyCanal, features a school teacher and author of children's books, intrinsically pragmatic, who doesn't bother with “that can't be done”. Over the course of six 26-minute episodes of this offbeat drama, she denounces the small and large absurdities of our time, from the fashion of Leetchi prize pools to the difficulty of conversing with emojis, including the difficulty of communicating at all.
20 Minutes asked Doria Tillier to comment on some well-felt assertions made by her heroine. The ideal world ofIris seen by its creator.
« “Who would think it's a good idea to make an opening system that you have to press at the same time as you turn? » »
Is the objective of this series to denounce the small (and large) absurdities of our contemporary society?
There is not a particular objective, but indeed, many things seem aberrant to me in our society. And whether the absurdity is of the order of detail or of the greatest importance, it is often the same ways of thinking that lead to it. And the origin of evil is this way of thinking. Iris focuses on the cap opening system because, according to her, it reflects a logical problem in the minds of normal human beings, these cap designers in this case.
« “People are ready to say anything to avoid any form of disagreement” »
Do you think that debate is no longer possible in our contemporary society? Do you think the world is too hypocritical?
I find debate difficult in many contexts. Sometimes, in all innocence, I ask myself questions, but do not dare to say them out loud for fear that a simple question will be received as an opinion. And when you don't dare to question, it's difficult to form an opinion. Iris is not afraid of questions or judgment. She needs to understand, to really understand, to think and move forward. I think we should all do it a little more. As for the hypocrisy of the world, yes! Yes, I find that for fear of offending, of disturbing, of destabilizing even a little (it is nevertheless sometimes pleasant to be destabilized), we wallow in a discourse which we imagine is comfortable for our(s). interlocutors. “Your cake is incredible!” », “You look magnificent with this new cut! » “Obviously, I voted like you, what a monster, the guy opposite! “. However, often the truth is much more nuanced, but we fear that it will be taken the wrong way. However, I believe that people, if we take the time to argue calmly, are ready to hear more things than we imagine.
« “We are often surprised to realize that children know a lot more things than we think” »
« “Taking children for idiots is not being very intelligent yourself” »
Do you think that we don't give enough importance to the words of children or to the part of childhood that we have within us?
It is also a phrase that concerns people in general. I find that we/they are often taken for idiots and that we/they are/are smarter than that. And above all, children and people end up behaving the way they are treated. If I am addressed in a very basic way, my brain will go into basic mode and I will not think or say anything interesting, but I will be told intelligent things, I will make the intellectual effort to put myself level, and it is likely that the discussion will be more constructive.
« “But what is this fashion for Leetchi prize pools? » »
What do you think Leetchi jackpots are a symptom of in our society?
From a lack of attention to the individual. A personalized gift requires more attention, more thought (personally, I find it more touching). And then, the prize pools are still a mass, shapeless, impersonal and into which we want to blend in without being noticed. So, we align ourselves with the amounts of others. And we end up putting more in a pot intended for a rich person than in a pot intended for a poor person and whose “average ticket” will a priori be lower. It's absurd, isn't it? And all this, not to really please the person concerned but just for fear of being considered out of line, stingy, or just “not very nice”. It drives me crazy.
« “If I could, I would tell people what to do all day. I would say what they should say, what they should think. I will say how the country should be managed” »
What would you advise our leaders to do to improve things if you had the chance?
I am in a very bad position to talk about politics. I think I would have some childish ideas, like banning advertising and social networks. I imagine that the economic consequences would be major, and then it's probably unconstitutional or something like that, but I would find it very good all the same.
« “Your worldview is not parasitized by any narcissism. Whatever the subject, you always place yourself at the right distance” »
Is this your ideal as an author?
Quite. As the character Tom says about painting, “to paint is not to want to impose your ideas on the world, but on the contrary, to try to empty it of any particular view. » And he says that what he does when painting is “start by looking”. My goal as an author is to transcribe the world as it is, so I try to look at it without thinking about myself. I haven't really succeeded yet.
Our Series file
« “Everyone says you write better when you’re surrounded by nature” »
Do you write better surrounded by nature?
Hahaha, no! I tried many times to go and write in the countryside, a real writer's atmosphere… Well, it didn't work. As far as I'm concerned, I feel like the setting doesn't matter. I wrote with my friend Constance Verluca and it was also our meetings that gave rhythm to the writing. We met at my place or hers. My only habit when I write is to have a cup of Ricoré.
« “It’s so nice to have finished something” »
Is that how you felt after finishing “Iris”?
It's nice and it's also a little sad, not being able to touch it anymore. But what warms my heart is the reception from the public. A lot of people said to me “but it’s my biopic!” »
