Jeri Jacquin
Coming to theatres
from writer/director Alexis Michalik and Roadshow Attractions is the story of a
writer desperate for inspiration with CYRANO, MY LOVE.
Edmond Rostand
(Thomas Soliveres) opened and closed a play that just doesn't seem to reach the
masses. Two years later in December of 1897 in Paris, Edmond has two children
and no prospects of money or ideas to write about. Wife Rosemonde (Alice de
Lencquesaing) remains supportive while managing to raise two small children.
Someone else who
believes in him is actress Sarah Bernhardt (Clementine Celarie) who tells
Edmond that actor and theatre owner Jean Coquelin (Igor Gotesman) wants to know
what he has written lately. Edmond goes to the theatre to meet and presents
vague ideas that excites Coquelin. A little confused, he learns that the
theatre is in trouble and the actor is looking for a hit.
Edmond's friend
George (Benjamin Bellecour) wants help to woo the heart of theatre dresser and
actress Jeanne (Lucie Boujenah). Being his mouthpiece of verbal love, she is
taken with 'George' and wants them to continue to write while she is away.
While in the local eatery, Edmond speaks with proprietor Monsieur Honore
(Jean-Michel Martial) and is helped even more toward an idea.
It is a story of
Cyrano, a man with a large nose who is in love with a woman he feels he can't
have. When a friend falls for the lovely Roxanne, Cyrano helps them get closer
by providing the words needed. Edmond feels he is onto something and Coquelin
couldn't be happier. There are two weeks before opening and Edmond is writing
the play as real life unfolds.
What he doesn't
expect are even more twists that turn into a stage production the likes of
which none of them have ever experienced - actor or audience.
Soliveres as Edmond
is a man who just wants to write something meaningful and that his wife and
family would be proud of. Feeling defeated from his previous play, it is his
friendship with Bernhardt that is the stepping stone to success. I love that
Soliveres plays this role with heart, soul and wit so that falling into the
story is so graceful and easy for the viewer. He is naïve, charming and
tortured as all playwrights are and no more so than a 1900's French playwright.
Lencquesaing as
Rosemond is a wife that should be given sainthood. She believes in her husband
and the talent he has with the written word. Even when others might not
understand what he is trying to do - she does. Managing a household and
children with little money, Rosemond is a heroine to be applauded. On the other
side she is also a woman that doesn't take kindly to the prospect of someone
else interfering with her family.
Gotesman as Coquelin
is an actors actor stuffing inside the suit of a theatre owner. It is clear he
loves being on stage but is now ready to take on a role that is written by the
skin of Edmond's teeth and Coquelin believes in it! I adore that about his character.
He rolls with the punches and develops the character of Cyrano based on faith
in Edmond and belief that anything on the stage is possible. He's also pretty
funny.
Bellecour as George
is a ladies man for sure but there is something about Jeanne that he can't get
away from. He's a good friend to Edmond which isn't repaid very well. Boujenah
as Jeanne is taken with George already but when Edmond becomes his voice, she
is woo'd right off her feet and out of her knickers! Celarie as Bernhardt is a force to be
reckoned with both on and off the stage. She see something in Edmond that he
just can't manage to see in himself. She is bold and has a flare that I really
would liked to have seen more of.
Martial as Monsieur
Honore hold the hope of everyone in the film. He sees Edmond as a man on the
verge of becoming everything he wanted to be, he doesn't suffer fools lightly
and his eyes always shine with a joy we could all learn from. I just wanted to give
him a shout out because, and I'll be honest, he looks like Dennis Haysbert but
speaks like a warrior poet.
CYRANO, MY LOVE is
such a joy for anyone who loves stage plays and period pieces. It has
everything! There is love, suffering, adventure, family, twists, plots,
friendship and even a sword fight scene that Conquelin wants so badly. There
are personal stumbles, professional confusion, mishaps, misunderstandings,
muses and joy that can only be found in the characters.
The cinematography
is amazing, the costuming is one for the books and the cast give the film such
depth and richness that I absolutely will see it again. There have been
incarnations of the story of Cyrano de Bergerac including musicals, ballet and
a spin with the 1987 Steve Martin version of Roxanne that I thoroughly still
enjoy.
The real Cyrano is
none other than Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac who was a novelist and
playwright. A playwright who inspired another playwright, Cyrano was an
educated man who also spent time in the military, did fall in love with a
beautiful woman and died under mysterious circumstances. Edmond Rostand took
things from his life and brought a play to the stage by reaching into our
hearts, but seeing how he did all that is just as much an experience as the
play itself.
This film is such a
joy!
In the end - he had
three weeks to write a masterpiece!
No comments:
Post a Comment