The funeral of the emblematic figure of French cinema takes place in Paris this Thursday.
This Thursday, October 10, Paris is preparing to pay a final tribute to Michel Blanc, a versatile actor whose career marked several generations of spectators, who died on October 3 at the age of 72 following an anaphylactic shock.
The place chosen for this final goodbye is not insignificant. The Saint-Eustache church, a building steeped in history in the heart of Paris, will host the ceremony at 4 p.m. This sanctuary, which the actor and member of the Splendid troupe frequented, has witnessed many significant events in French cultural history. It was there that the baptism and funerals of Molière, Mozart’s mother, Marivaux and the composers Jean-Philippe Rameau and Jean-Baptiste Lully took place.
In an opening gesture, Ramatoulaye Diop, the actor’s companion, wanted this tribute to be accessible to the public, “within the limits of available places”, reveals BFMTV. However, the intimacy of the ceremony will be preserved, with an audio-only broadcast outside. Many close friends of the actor revealed to the general public through his role as Jean-Claude Dusse in Les Bronzés will speak during the ceremony. Religious texts will also be read.
Music, the secret passion of Michel Blanc who dreamed of being a pianist before launching into comedy, will occupy a central place in the ceremony. Among the pieces chosen, we will find the “Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat major”, known as the “Jeunehomme” concerto by Mozart, a work particularly appreciated by the actor.
“The brutality of the actor’s disappearance”
Father Yves Trocheris, who has already officiated at the funerals of Gaspard Ulliel and Marie Laforêt, will preside over the ceremony. The office should highlight not only “the brutality of the actor’s disappearance” but also “the sensitivity which characterized him”, assure our colleagues.
The tribute will also be an opportunity to recall the richness of Michel Blanc’s career, which was not limited to the comedies that made him famous. Indeed, throughout his career, he has alternated between dramatic roles and popular comedies, establishing himself as a complete actor.
Without ever departing from comic roles (Grosse fatigue in 1994, Les Bronzés 3 in 2006), his cinematographic career is in fact punctuated by dramatic roles praised by critics (Monsieur Hire, Les witnesses).
Even after his departure, Michel Blanc will continue to delight the public. Two films, “Le Routard” and “La Cache”, are expected for 2025, offering spectators a final opportunity to appreciate the actor’s talent.
