One of France’s most popular directors, Claude Lelouch, who won two Oscars for Un Home Et Une Femme (A Man And A Woman), was in India for the French Film Festival. His most recent film, Crossed Tracks, which was screened at the festival, was another enormously popular thriller. Though he could not speak a word of English he put across his ideas perfectly through a translator…
What is the most important aspect in a French thriller, say like your film Crossed Tracks?
The story! I for one am terribly inspired by real-life situations for all my films including thrillers. My film Crossed Tracks was inspired from a real-life situation and is about two women, one a femme fatale and the other a romantic and how they change a man’s life drastically.
What is the difference between French cinema and Indian cinema?
I see a huge difference between the two! Indian films are made for the masses, so they are dramatic and loud. French cinema on the other hand is made for the elite and is what could be called intelligent cinema. The general public here may not appreciate it.
Is there a possibility of merging the two?
Definitely! I would take one Indian actor and one French star. It would be interesting to see how we can mix the exuberance of Indian actors with the sobriety of French artistes. I would shoot half the film in India and half in France. The French like Hollywood musicals so I would add some dance and music from Indian films. I would decide on the casting after working on the script. But I think Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is very beautiful and magnificent!
When we say French we think of fashion and style. What comes to your mind when someone says India?
Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru and Indira Gandhi! In fact Gandhi is like the Eiffel Tower of India!
You have got two Oscars for your film A Man And A Woman. How can the Oscars change the life of a filmmaker?
It can give a filmmaker total liberty. When I got the Oscar, I felt like a slave who has been liberated. I had complete freedom to experiment with various subjects and it reassured me completely as a filmmaker!
What are you currently working on?
It’s called Ces Annees La, a romantic musical.
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