I wasnt sure what to expect when interviewing Cecile de France in person. Ive seen only a handful of her films but the one that made the biggest impression on me is her latest, High Tension where she has to battle a vicious killer. Its a French horror film thats a gory throwback to films such as Alien, I Spit on Your Grave, American Gothic and those of that ilk. de France is the star of High Tension and plays Marie who is staying at a friends house in the French countryside when out of the blue an evil sadistic son of a bitch starts killing the entire family in the most horrific ways imaginable. de Frances character is the only one that has the chance save the last surviving family member.
Check out the official website for High Tension
Daniel Robert Epstein: How are you today?
Cecile de France: I'm happy to be here in New York for the first time.
DRE: I see youve obviously done a lot of films in France; did you audition for High Tension?
CF: No, they approached me three years ago and just asked me to do the role. Then I read the script and devoured it because it is a very good script. It was also the first time a director proposed a role that was so violent and I love that kind of film. Also I have a theatre background so since there was not a lot of dialogue I got to play more with my body which I like.
DRE: I read that you were a big fan of horror films.
CF: [director/co-writer] Alexandre Aja is a fan of these films and after he chose me he asked me to see the films The Hit, Duel, Rosemarys Baby and The Tenant. So I discovered these films.
DRE: There is some slight controversy swirling over the lesbian aspects. How do you think that affected the character?
CF: As an actress, what was interesting was to play a character who has not yet found her equilibrium. Shes a bit of a tomboy and at the beginning of the film she is withdrawn and vulnerable especially compared to her friend Alex [played by Mawenn Le Besco]. Alex is more extroverted and self assured and they are very close. Its not about homosexuality, its about this girl who appears fragile gradually revealing her true self and everything she keeps within, comes out. It is not symbolic as some journalists are saying. Something is not right with Marie so when she sees something wrong she tackles it head on.
DRE: Just by coincidence recently I talked to Leigh Whannell, who wrote SAW, and we spoke about High Tension. He said that High Tension kind of goes back to a time when horror filmmakers didnt have as much regard for the safety of their main characters. How does one play someone who constantly might just disappear off the screen and be dead?
CF: When Alexandre proposed the role to me, he explained that the film is more about my survival with me as the heroine. Its more about the little boy, the mother, the father who died very quickly, but not my death.
DRE: How did the rough conditions affect the shooting of the movie?
CF: The conditions were very bad because it was a low budget movie and we had to shoot all night long in the cold. But thats why I think this film is successful, the energy was very special because its like we were fighting with elements of nature.
DRE: Did it make you angrier more when you were supposed to be angry or shiver more when you were afraid?
CF: No, Im the kind of actress who prefers to be comfortable to concentrate with what Ive got to do. I dont want to be hurt if I have to play hurt. I prefer to be directed by someone who knows what they want to do, thats all.
DRE: Theres this film that came out about 25 years ago called I Spit on Your Grave and was also called Day of the Woman. In the beginning of it this woman is raped and spends the rest of the movie killing the men who raped her in horrible ways. Im sure the filmmakers didnt mean it to be but since then its been called out by some feminists as being empowering. Do you think High Tension can be viewed that way?
CF: No, I think the heroine is for the sexy part, thats all. Just for the mixture of attraction and repulsion that we have for the things that terrify us. Just to feel the thrill. I always use this example, you invite friends for a sleepover over when you are a kid to and when your mother turns off the light, some think its exciting, some think its thrilling, so its only about this. Theres no fighting for female something, just tension.
DRE: What was the attitude on set when you werent shooting?
CF: It was very friendly. Giannetto De Rossi, the special effects makeup artist, is a true craftsman and so I spent a lot of time observing him when he was building and creating all of the wounds and scars. It was wonderful to see that, so when we were not shooting I spent a lot of time in his trailer to look at how he did it. It was very funny, because, for example, when the man who died in his car wasnt shooting he was standing there with his coffee and his cigarette covered in wounds and blood saying hello. So outside of shooting it was very funny.
DRE: For the American release, there was about one minute cut out of the gore when they get the head cut off. Did you see the American version?
CF: Oh that's a shame. No, I did not.
DRE: From what I read, horror is the genre that fueled your teenage dreams. What were the horror movies that you remember seeing?
CF: The Shining. I like adventure films, thriller and horror films. It makes me feel alive which is a good feeling.
DRE: Did you feel that the twist ending in High Tension was necessary?
CF: No, it was not necessary.
DRE: American actors wouldnt usually admit that.
Was there any part of this that you couldnt watch? Like, maybe the scene where he pushes the desk into the fathers head?
CF: No, not really, I think its funny. Its about imagination and if a director has something to create, I think its more interesting if he oversteps the bounds. If he pushes the envelope its impressive.
DRE: At what point did you realize that this movie was going to get you to come to visit New York and become this big deal and probably make a quite a bit of money?
CF: No, I never thought about that. I just want to tell the story and play my character. Thats most important. I never think about what happens after, the business or the life of the film.
DRE: If High Tension does well enough, Im sure there would be a sequel either in the theater or straight to video. Would you want to be involved with that?
CF: I dont know, it depends on the script, it depends on the character and it depends on the quality of the project.
DRE: Would you do it if it was a good script but Alexandre Aja wasnt involved?
CF: No, perhaps not. This film was a synchronization of a few elements, because we were young, because we were with Giannetto De Rossi. If it does have the same things it will not be the same spirit.
DRE: Are you already getting calls to be in more horror films?
CF: I dont know. But Im not thinking about what kind of film I want to do; its more about the story or the character.
DRE: Did you have any influence on the look of your character?
CF: Alexandre wanted the tomboy look. But also I did two months of physical working with an amateur boxing world champion. I lost a lot of weight and gained a lot of muscle. Alexandre wanted to build up my stamina and also to make my face more angular because my other characters were fresh and glowing so he wanted to change this aspect of myself. I needed to change my body, to change my face, to change my hair for this role. It was very exciting for me
DRE: The website that I write for has girls with tattoos on it. I was wondering if you have any tattoos.
CF: No I do not.
DRE: Have you ever thought about getting one?
CF: No, I dont think its a good idea.
DRE: Why is that?
CF: When you are old, you cannot take it off but sometimes its beautiful when its well done. Also if I have to play a princess in the 18th Century, how will I do that? I have to cover it over. I would be prisoner of my choice.
DRE: How was hosting this years Cannes Film Festival?
CF: I was the mistress of ceremonies. It was amazing, but I was filming in Paris so I was going back and forth so I did not get to see the films, but as mistress of ceremonies you just have to present the members of the jury and the president of the jury. It was a privilege and an honor for me.
DRE: When did the acting bug bite you?
CF: When I was six years old. One day the teacher asked me to recite a poem so I did a lot of gestures and with the costumes and everything. All of the class applauded for me and when the teacher asked another time who wants to recite a poem and all the class would say Cecile, Cecile. Thats when I started doing a lot of amateur theater.
DRE: Do you know what movie youre doing next?
CF: Ive just finished a film, called Fauteuils d'orchestre, by Danielle Thompson who did the script for Queen Margot and I will begin another one with Grard Depardieu that is about a love story between us. Also the sequel to L Auberge espagnole by Cdric Klapisch is coming out on June 15 in France and its called The Russian Dolls. Its impressive because its the same characters but its five years later. So its more about the problems of adults and so its better than L Auberge espagnole.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
Check out the official website for High Tension
Daniel Robert Epstein: How are you today?
Cecile de France: I'm happy to be here in New York for the first time.
DRE: I see youve obviously done a lot of films in France; did you audition for High Tension?
CF: No, they approached me three years ago and just asked me to do the role. Then I read the script and devoured it because it is a very good script. It was also the first time a director proposed a role that was so violent and I love that kind of film. Also I have a theatre background so since there was not a lot of dialogue I got to play more with my body which I like.
DRE: I read that you were a big fan of horror films.
CF: [director/co-writer] Alexandre Aja is a fan of these films and after he chose me he asked me to see the films The Hit, Duel, Rosemarys Baby and The Tenant. So I discovered these films.
DRE: There is some slight controversy swirling over the lesbian aspects. How do you think that affected the character?
CF: As an actress, what was interesting was to play a character who has not yet found her equilibrium. Shes a bit of a tomboy and at the beginning of the film she is withdrawn and vulnerable especially compared to her friend Alex [played by Mawenn Le Besco]. Alex is more extroverted and self assured and they are very close. Its not about homosexuality, its about this girl who appears fragile gradually revealing her true self and everything she keeps within, comes out. It is not symbolic as some journalists are saying. Something is not right with Marie so when she sees something wrong she tackles it head on.
DRE: Just by coincidence recently I talked to Leigh Whannell, who wrote SAW, and we spoke about High Tension. He said that High Tension kind of goes back to a time when horror filmmakers didnt have as much regard for the safety of their main characters. How does one play someone who constantly might just disappear off the screen and be dead?
CF: When Alexandre proposed the role to me, he explained that the film is more about my survival with me as the heroine. Its more about the little boy, the mother, the father who died very quickly, but not my death.
DRE: How did the rough conditions affect the shooting of the movie?
CF: The conditions were very bad because it was a low budget movie and we had to shoot all night long in the cold. But thats why I think this film is successful, the energy was very special because its like we were fighting with elements of nature.
DRE: Did it make you angrier more when you were supposed to be angry or shiver more when you were afraid?
CF: No, Im the kind of actress who prefers to be comfortable to concentrate with what Ive got to do. I dont want to be hurt if I have to play hurt. I prefer to be directed by someone who knows what they want to do, thats all.
DRE: Theres this film that came out about 25 years ago called I Spit on Your Grave and was also called Day of the Woman. In the beginning of it this woman is raped and spends the rest of the movie killing the men who raped her in horrible ways. Im sure the filmmakers didnt mean it to be but since then its been called out by some feminists as being empowering. Do you think High Tension can be viewed that way?
CF: No, I think the heroine is for the sexy part, thats all. Just for the mixture of attraction and repulsion that we have for the things that terrify us. Just to feel the thrill. I always use this example, you invite friends for a sleepover over when you are a kid to and when your mother turns off the light, some think its exciting, some think its thrilling, so its only about this. Theres no fighting for female something, just tension.
DRE: What was the attitude on set when you werent shooting?
CF: It was very friendly. Giannetto De Rossi, the special effects makeup artist, is a true craftsman and so I spent a lot of time observing him when he was building and creating all of the wounds and scars. It was wonderful to see that, so when we were not shooting I spent a lot of time in his trailer to look at how he did it. It was very funny, because, for example, when the man who died in his car wasnt shooting he was standing there with his coffee and his cigarette covered in wounds and blood saying hello. So outside of shooting it was very funny.
DRE: For the American release, there was about one minute cut out of the gore when they get the head cut off. Did you see the American version?
CF: Oh that's a shame. No, I did not.
DRE: From what I read, horror is the genre that fueled your teenage dreams. What were the horror movies that you remember seeing?
CF: The Shining. I like adventure films, thriller and horror films. It makes me feel alive which is a good feeling.
DRE: Did you feel that the twist ending in High Tension was necessary?
CF: No, it was not necessary.
DRE: American actors wouldnt usually admit that.
Was there any part of this that you couldnt watch? Like, maybe the scene where he pushes the desk into the fathers head?
CF: No, not really, I think its funny. Its about imagination and if a director has something to create, I think its more interesting if he oversteps the bounds. If he pushes the envelope its impressive.
DRE: At what point did you realize that this movie was going to get you to come to visit New York and become this big deal and probably make a quite a bit of money?
CF: No, I never thought about that. I just want to tell the story and play my character. Thats most important. I never think about what happens after, the business or the life of the film.
DRE: If High Tension does well enough, Im sure there would be a sequel either in the theater or straight to video. Would you want to be involved with that?
CF: I dont know, it depends on the script, it depends on the character and it depends on the quality of the project.
DRE: Would you do it if it was a good script but Alexandre Aja wasnt involved?
CF: No, perhaps not. This film was a synchronization of a few elements, because we were young, because we were with Giannetto De Rossi. If it does have the same things it will not be the same spirit.
DRE: Are you already getting calls to be in more horror films?
CF: I dont know. But Im not thinking about what kind of film I want to do; its more about the story or the character.
DRE: Did you have any influence on the look of your character?
CF: Alexandre wanted the tomboy look. But also I did two months of physical working with an amateur boxing world champion. I lost a lot of weight and gained a lot of muscle. Alexandre wanted to build up my stamina and also to make my face more angular because my other characters were fresh and glowing so he wanted to change this aspect of myself. I needed to change my body, to change my face, to change my hair for this role. It was very exciting for me
DRE: The website that I write for has girls with tattoos on it. I was wondering if you have any tattoos.
CF: No I do not.
DRE: Have you ever thought about getting one?
CF: No, I dont think its a good idea.
DRE: Why is that?
CF: When you are old, you cannot take it off but sometimes its beautiful when its well done. Also if I have to play a princess in the 18th Century, how will I do that? I have to cover it over. I would be prisoner of my choice.
DRE: How was hosting this years Cannes Film Festival?
CF: I was the mistress of ceremonies. It was amazing, but I was filming in Paris so I was going back and forth so I did not get to see the films, but as mistress of ceremonies you just have to present the members of the jury and the president of the jury. It was a privilege and an honor for me.
DRE: When did the acting bug bite you?
CF: When I was six years old. One day the teacher asked me to recite a poem so I did a lot of gestures and with the costumes and everything. All of the class applauded for me and when the teacher asked another time who wants to recite a poem and all the class would say Cecile, Cecile. Thats when I started doing a lot of amateur theater.
DRE: Do you know what movie youre doing next?
CF: Ive just finished a film, called Fauteuils d'orchestre, by Danielle Thompson who did the script for Queen Margot and I will begin another one with Grard Depardieu that is about a love story between us. Also the sequel to L Auberge espagnole by Cdric Klapisch is coming out on June 15 in France and its called The Russian Dolls. Its impressive because its the same characters but its five years later. So its more about the problems of adults and so its better than L Auberge espagnole.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
VIEW 14 of 14 COMMENTS
Huck said:
she is French right? she speaks fuckin good English!
she's belgian, and french-speaker. I don't know if she talks english fluently, maybe the interview has been done in french then traduced. Anyway she's a really lovely girl, very funny. I like her much!!!
Varennes said:
Huck said:
she is French right? she speaks fuckin good English!
she's belgian, and french-speaker. I don't know if she talks english fluently, maybe the interview has been done in french then traduced. Anyway she's a really lovely girl, very funny. I like her much!!!
she was there with a translator but only checked with the translator on a few words. so i just subbed them in