Sandrine Kiberlain finds a role suited to her in Sarah Bernhardt, la divine by Guillaume Nicloux. This actress, born in 1844 and died in 1923, is remembered like no other. “She staged her life,” declares Sandrine Kiberlain. She was the first influencer.” Her talent and eccentricity appear in this exciting film which pays tribute as much to the woman as to the actress.
“I was far from imagining what I learned while reading the script and doing research to prepare for the role,” explains Sandrine Kiberlain. She did not worry about pleasing and did things as she felt, allowing herself all the freedoms.” Like being bisexual, committing against the death penalty, defending women’s rights and speaking your mind without filtering it.
Another way to play
“She had a volcanic personality,” declares Laurent Lafitte who plays Lucien Guitry, one of the actress’s great loves. Something really impressive must have happened when she was on stage because sometimes people in the audience fainted during the performance.” Sarah Bernhardt’s late-life voice recordings suggest that acting has evolved significantly over more than a century.
“We understand a word from time to time,” admits Laurent Lafitte, “but we feel its presence.” Sandrine Kiberlain restores this charisma in a masterful way. “I was inhabited by Sarah, but I didn’t know how it was going to come out,” she remembers. Guillaume Nicloux and the team were my first spectators.” What comes out is the portrait of an exceptional woman, endearing, annoying and authoritarian (especially towards her servant played by the always wonderful Laurent Stocker).
Like a rock star
“She managed to exist on stage and off without ever being filmed and without social networks,” explains Sandrine Kiberlain. I think his sincerity was total. If her way of playing is dated, we feel that she inhabits all her words. She went like a trip when she was in a role.” We also discover in the film that she was the first to sign autographs and that she was very involved in the Dreyfus affair. “She was talked about in all areas and without calculation,” insists Sandrine Kiberlain. She lived like a rock star with her extravagances like rehearsing in a coffin. »
A brilliant woman
If it could often be overwhelming, the star’s personality also earned her loyal affections like that of the artist Louise Abbéma to whom Amira Casar lends her features. “She took up all the space but Sarah was loved for life. She was a brilliant woman regardless of the great actress that one might imagine,” declares Sandrine Kiberlain. His subtle and flamboyant performance does both justice and homage to his model who we regret never having seen on stage.
