De film after film, Franck Dubosc has established himself as one of the best comedy directors in France. Better still, his “Ours in the Jura” is designed to start the year in a good mood. Far from the sun of the clumsy “Camping”, he sets his action in a snowy town and gives his feature film a thriller touch which is reminiscent of “Fargo” by the Coen brothers. Everything changes, in fact, as Christmas approaches when Michel (played by the project manager), while avoiding a bear, causes an accident causing the death of two thugs… and steals their briefcase full of money. Now all that remains is to establish a plan with his wife (Laure Calamy) so as not to get caught and not arouse the suspicions of the local police officer (Benoît Poelvoorde).
A choral work, which behind its caustic humor speaks above all of the couple and the difficulty of finding true desire after years of living together. True to himself, Franck Dubosc injects a certain tenderness into his characters, for a funny, lively result… and full of little ideas for direction. Excellent entertainment.
Franck Dubosc who delivers a scathing comedy in the vein of “Fargo”. A playground on which we didn't expect you. The desire to surprise the public?
Perhaps the desire to surprise myself… but not the public! If I had written or directed in this direction, I would probably have missed out on what I wanted to do. My goal was to master history, not to fit into a specific genre. Besides, if the genre doesn't exist, so much the better. This is reminiscent of my beginnings as a one-man show: I did what was relevant to me, without trying to fit into a specific framework.
I wanted talents recognized for their acting and not for their comedic potential”
The tone, a snowy town, a little thriller side… Are you however aware that we can make a comparison with the Coen brothers' film?
It was pointed out to me at the end of the writing that it reminded me of the Coen brothers… but before that, it wasn't intentional. I had seen “Fargo” a long time ago and only vaguely remembered the story. I was also advised to discover “A Simple Plan” by Sam Raimi, which I did not know. (Re)seeing these films simply confirmed my affection for this type of cinema. However, I did not try to copy them. This would have been a bad idea, because although they remain excellent, they are over thirty years old and “A Bear in the Jura” would have seemed dated.
Your film is distinguished by a certain tenderness and an absence of cynicism. You always find a way to save or redeem your characters… Maybe it's there, the Dubosc paw?
Absolutely. I want people to like my characters, even the most imperfect ones. It probably comes from a personal need to show that we can go beyond appearances. In my films, I convey this unconsciously.
Michel (Franck Dubosc) and Cathy (Laure Calamy), a couple worn down by time and financial difficulties, no longer really speak to each other. The discovery of two million euros will change the situation.
Julien Panié/Gaumont
Since your first feature film “Everybody Stand Up”, we sense a desire to tackle profound themes when you go behind the camera…
It's true. With my films, I have the opportunity to put more of myself into them. In “Everybody Stand Up,” I constructed certain scenes like sort of wagons, to transport the audience from the humor to which I had accustomed them to emotion. In my shows, I always start by writing the ending, often moving, like a letter I send to my mother. It is this part of me that I wish to transmit.
When writing, how do you manage to insert funny moments while developing the plot?
Sometimes I have scenes or gag ideas in mind before I even know the plot. For example, for the scene where the young girl is being interrogated and her policeman father is behind and hears incongruous things, I had the idea before looking at the script. Then, I work with two tables, with notes on the story on one side and sketches on the other, which I integrate gradually. With my co-author, Sarah Kaminski, we build the whole thing like a puzzle.
How did you put together the casting and think in particular of Laure Calamy to play your wife?
I wanted to get out of my usual circle. Apart from Christophe Canard who plays the priest, I took actors with whom I had no personal affinity. I wanted talent recognized for their acting and not for their comedic potential. It was more difficult because I had to gain their trust, but in the end it was worth it!
“A bear in the Jura”, by Franck Dubosc and Sarah Kaminsky, with Laure Calamy, Franck Dubosc, Benoît Poelvoorde. Duration: 1 hour 52 minutes. Theatrical release on Wednesday 1is January.
