When French actor producer Omar SY began working on Netflix’s romantic comedy “French Lover,” what scared him the most was not playing sex symbols or showing his skin for the first time. I drew the French entertainment industry in a way that doesn’t turn into a portrait.
The Palsett film, which launched globally on Friday, stars Sy as Abel Camara, a well-known yet disgusted actor who has just been dumped by the actress’s girlfriend. He unexpectedly becomes engrossed in her unfortunate waitress (Sarah Gillaudo), who doesn’t care about her divorced fame.
Nina Rives’ feature debut, “French Lover,” also sees Kamala and his entourage, including his agent (Pascale Arbillot) and childhood friend (Alban Ivanov), navigate the ups and downs of the film industry in search of more “serious roles.” The film reunites SY with Hugo Jellin. Hugo Gerin previously directed him at the French box office.
“We’re making movies about the industry and we’re in a somewhat closed environment, so it was a bit difficult to judge the level of criticism and self-mobility, so we thought a lot about it,” says SY.
“It means we are not too strict with ourselves, but at the same time it means we are not too good. We meant having the right distance from everything and ensuring some kindness as we love our business.
Talk to Variety via Zoom, Sy makes his romantic comedy debut, winning the César Award 15 years ago, then developing a career in France and the US, and discussing after being involved in a project as a producer who avoids typecasting. In particular, the outspoken actor and producer who created “Father and the Soldier” (about the Senegale rifleman during World War II) also tackles racism in France, saying, “As a black Muslim, I experience far more racism in France than in the United States.”
How did you collaborate on your debut feature with Nina Lives?
I don’t think it’s a secret that Nina is Hugo Jellin’s wife. When we did “Two Are Family,” there was a moment during filming when Hugo Gerin had to leave for personal reasons, and Nina took over the set for two days. I really saw that she is a true director and that she really has a way of seeing things, how to film. Nina is extremely talented as an artist and on a personal level she is important to me. At that point we became friends.
When she told me about this project, I wanted to support her with this. She came up with a story, and initially thought of a series, but I thought to myself, “In fact, it’s more like a rom-com movie.” And we started developing it and came up with this script. And we had to find out who would play the female lead. It took a while.
You found Saragirado, not a typical romantic comedy act. But they both have great chemistry!
We did a big cast, but when Sarah’s name was on the list it seemed clear that she was the right one. We said, “If she accepts it, it’s great.”
Have you read Chemistry?
no. First, it was important that Nina and Sara meet and have Sara meet and read it. Then she met me. We read a bit together, but what’s surprising is that it clicked pretty quickly and naturally with Sarah. She’s pretty laid back and feels like she has the same approach as me in the material. So it all came together in a truly natural and effortless way.
Emmanuel Guimier/Netflix
We are not used to watching you do sensual scenes. Were you comfortable?
The great thing about that is that we developed this project and the script with Nina. I trust Nina, so she also knows my humility, so it was the right place for me to try this genre. When I developed the final script, it filtered all about whether I could.
Have you worked with an intimate coordinator?
You know, it is their duty to provide it to you. And then it’s up to our actors to accept it or not. And we didn’t need it. The scenes we had to play didn’t need it for us either, either, for Sarah or me. It was also a matter of trust. But yes, they offered us it.
What was the mention of “French lover”?
We have a lot of American and British references, but Nina would be better off explaining what she wanted. Either way, we wanted to stick to what we liked in the genre. There may be some retro aspects, but we fully acknowledge that. The closest thing to “French Lover” is “an empty hill.” So my character is like Julia Roberts!
But your character in “French Lover” is far better than Julia Roberts in “Notting Hill.”
Well, Abel might be a little more adorable and everything, but he still has a dark side. And it was important to accept and include it in the film.
Emmanuel Guimier/Netflix
How many Omar SY does Abel Kamara have?
It’s difficult for me to say. I can’t say it. In fact, I think it’s a question for my loved ones, my close friends, or my close colleagues who are with me every day. I’m the least qualified to answer that!
I just saw George Clooney and Jay Kelly. George Clooney suggests that being an actor can make you feel schizophrenia. Would it be difficult to play another version of yourself?
So, the life of an actor is schizophrenia in the sense that we are always playing people, but I don’t have any difficulty with that. The hardest part for me was setting up the bar. We’re making movies about the industry and in a somewhat closed environment, it was a bit difficult to judge the level of criticism and self-packaging. We take caution and mean that we are not too strict with ourselves, but at the same time we mean that we are not too good.
In the film, your character Abel follows the role he thinks he can win a Cesar Award. Was it inspired by your own experience? You won Cesar in the role of caretaker in the 2009 film “Intouchables,” and your career has since been far removed from it.
The thing is, I won Cesar without any meaning. Essentially, when I was given the lead role in “Intouchables,” I was very happy to play the lead role. I worked so hard that I wanted to endure the trust that Eric (Tredano) and Olivier (Nakasz) had in me at the moment. In the end I got Cesar, but when I started working on the film I didn’t have Cesar in mind.
When I got that recognition, it gave me so much confidence. That Cesar Award opened the door for me. “OK, I’m an actor, so I can chase a lot of roles and projects, and I can do a lot of things,” I told myself. But at the time I was sketching them in Sav (a short comedy segment that aired on Primetime Canal+), so the next morning I was back to writing sketches when I won the César Award.
Do you think you have to appear in an auter film in order to be taken seriously in the industry?
You can see that journalists, critics, and even some experts and some directors are saying, “What does he really want to do? What is his type of film?” For me, movies are movies. There are no movie types. I’m a person who likes to tell stories. The genre is mere form and vehicle, but what’s important to me is the story. That’s what I like. That’s my job.
What role does it offer in the US in France?
There’s something very repetitive about the roles I’m on offer, so I come as a producer because I have to create my own “toys.” People often suggest things they have seen or like about you. What I like about my job, especially in my experience in this profession, is that I am lucky enough to do so many different things. I like novelties and I want to feel like I’m constantly updating myself. Whether it’s the US or France, there’s something repeating about business and you have to be able to shift gears. And to do that, sometimes you need to develop your own projects. Otherwise, it’s when they puncture you in a pigeon hole and it’s not too funny.
Do you think you’ll get more roles in romantic comedy after “French Lover”?
To be precise, they’ll see me in this film, so they’ll offer me some similar roles. Previously, they didn’t.
Are you a personal fan of romantic comedy?
We all have our favorite classics. There are soft spots for “When Harry Met Sally” and “The Bridge of Madison County” and this is on the melodramatic side. “La La Land,” the love story of that film really hit me.
Also, you’re clearly obsessed with action movies. In “French Lover,” you can see him doing a stunt scene going south. Have you ever risked your life doing a stunt?
I really like something a little action packed and want to do more, everything I can in the US. So whenever I have the opportunity to do it in France, I will try! So, “Damn, I have 5 kids! What are you doing here?” But even then I still love to challenge myself.
I recently read an interview where you said you are facing more racism in France than in the US
To set a straightforward record about it, I was being asked by French journalists about Trump’s politics, but I couldn’t understand why I was asked about it when I live there (in Los Angeles). I am more affected by French racism than in the United States, and as a black Muslim, I feel that I experience far more racism in France than in the United States. And let’s be clear about this: we can look at the cards and point our fingers at him, but what I’m saying is, “Let’s clean our own backyard.” The way I was criticized for talking about France is racist in itself. So basically, that means I’m not grateful, but I’m French like everyone else. The fact that my opinion about France is questionable is evidence of racism in France.
Next, he will appear in “Dumas: Black Devil.” This is a film about Thomas Alexandre Davey Dedala Pyretaly Dumas, the father of French writer Alexandre Dumas, who became the first black leader in the French army and served under Napoleon Bonaparte. What can you make fun of?
I’m not going to play that main character (it’s played by Theo Christine). But yes, we are so happy to be able to tell this story and shine a spotlight on this character, which is known to be unknown.
We will also meet the fourth season of “Lupine,” which we filmed earlier this month. I’ve heard you’re very involved in writing this new season.
I was an artistic producer last season, and in this new season, Louis Leterier and I were co-showrunners, so I joined Carousel Studios (production company).
How was it like being a showrunner for the first time?
It’s tiring! It was a non-stop five months. It was exhausting, but being in the driver’s seat was also really refreshing. You can take projects anywhere, and we are pretty pleased with the season we put together. We tried to bring new ones to the table, keeping the “Lupin” DNA, introducing the new ones. It’s a kind of challenge and we feel successful.
