HASlexandra Lamy goes behind the camera. The actress discovered in the 1990s in the France 2 series A boy a girl has many successes on television and in the cinema. For years, she had nurtured the desire, not so secret as that, to direct a film herself, without ever daring to take the plunge. But on reading Affected, the comic strip illustrated by Quentin Zuttion, released in 2019, flashes on this story of women victims of domestic and sexual violence who learn to rebuild themselves, thanks to group therapy, based on the practice of fencing.
And to finally accept the challenge by taking control of this effective two-part TV movie, broadcast this Thursday evening in prime time on TF1. For the occasion, she surrounded herself, in addition to Claudia Tagbo, her best friend Mélanie Doutey and her own daughter Chloé Jouannet, with the aim of conveying a message that she hopes will be useful to free the voices of victims and support associations. A message which, obviously, has already seduced the jury of the last La Rochelle Fiction Festival, led by Sandrine Bonnaire: Affected was awarded, on September 18, the prize for the best unit.
Point : For years, you have been talking in interviews about your desire to go behind the camera. Where does this desire come from?
Alexandra Lamy: When I was a child, I lived in the countryside. Back then, we didn’t have cell phones or video games. So to occupy myself, I used my imagination. I created scenes with my dolls, my stuffed animals, my puppets. I wrote, I put on shows, I drew, I painted. I had, in quotation marks, an attraction for artistic activities. And above all, I wanted to tell stories.
But you waited until you were 50 to take the plunge…
Even if I kept in me this desire to tell stories, it seemed impossible to me to take control of a film, since I had absolutely no control over the technical aspect. I finally understood that to do this job, it was above all necessary to surround yourself with good people and, on the set, that all I had to do was explain to my team what I wanted to get it.
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What made you decide to take the plunge?
One day Philip [Boëffard, son producteur NDLR] calls me: “I just read a comic. I would like to adapt it. Can I send it to you? I say yes and ask him what role he sees me playing. And there, he tells me that it is, in his eyes, the ideal project to move on to directing.
It was Quentin Zuttion’s comic, Touched…
Yes. This book overwhelmed me. It tells the journey of three very different women who will learn, together, to rebuild themselves after having suffered various forms of violence. I, who am very involved with many associations for the defense of women, could only be overwhelmed by this story.
We all sometimes had this impression in the work of being first judged on our physical appearance before being judged on our professional skills. But we almost got used to it.
How old is your commitment to victims of domestic and sexual violence?
I invested myself a lot during the first confinement, thinking of all these women who were going to find themselves locked up with their executioner. We worked with the gendarmerie, pharmacies, local shops to tell the women that we were there. It was also on this occasion that I met Andréa Bescond [la réalisatrice de Chatouilles tient un second rôle dans Touchées, NDLR]also very involved in this cause.
Is violence against women a subject that concerned you directly?
I think we’ve all been touched by that. And above all, it’s true, women! We all sometimes had this impression in the work of being first judged on our physical appearance before being judged on our professional skills. But we almost got used to it. Otherwise yes, like many young actresses, I got screwed over by directors.
A subject on women victims of violence, is it not complicated to deal with in a TV fiction?
I didn’t want to show the violence directly. Even if I couldn’t completely ignore certain images. But above all I wanted to talk about the aftermath. Of rebuilding. I like this aspect, I must take it from my father: I always look for the glimmer of hope, the little patch of blue sky. I wanted to address the victims, to tell them that you can go through these painful moments and rebuild your life. I wanted to talk about the small everyday victories.
I didn’t have time to deal with each other’s egos. That’s why I needed great actresses who trusted me.
So this film is mainly aimed at women?
It is for everyone. It’s not a women’s film. Moreover, to have already shown it a little everywhere in France, in the debates which follow the projections, it is, most of the time, the men who speak first. They speak of fraternity and even of sorority. But I want to be clear: this film does not put men on trial.
How did you choose your cast?
We only had 23 days of shooting, it’s short… it’s very short! So there was no time to lose. I didn’t have time to deal with each other’s egos. That’s why I needed great actresses who trusted me. The first name that came to mind was that of my friend Mélanie Doutey, who is a wonderful actress. We had already talked a lot together about body language and she is an actress who knows how to play with her body very well. She never overdoes it. She trusted me the day I called her to tell her that I wanted her in my film. As for Claudia Tagbo, she perfectly embodies this type of girl, always ready, with her kindness and her smile, to reach out to you, even though you never think of asking her how she is!
And for the third main role, you chose Chloé Jouannet, your daughter… It’s a bit daring, isn’t it?
I proceeded with her as with the others. When I saw the role of Tamara, I immediately imagined Chloé and not just because she was my daughter. It was out of the question to favor her. But Chloé knows my fights well and she herself is quite committed. Especially since she has girlfriends who have been victims of violence. I said to myself that she had the fragility of her character and at the same time this inner fire that was just waiting to show itself. I wanted her to express this violence and I must admit that she gave me even more than I thought.
Affected received the prize for best unit at the last La Rochelle Fiction Festival. How did you react ?
Of course, I’m overjoyed. For the teams, for my actresses, my actors. It shows that it touched the jury just as it touched everyone we’ve shown it to before. In addition, it was Sandrine Bonnaire, a sister-in-arms, who gave it to me. It only has more power for me.
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What impact do you hope to have with this film?
Above all, I can’t wait for it to come out, for it to be seen. It is already distributed in associations and high schools and we have seen how necessary it is to free speech. And I also want to insist on the work of the associations which often lack the means to help all these women who, once they have gone to the gendarmerie, need to find a place to take refuge.
When you shoot for TF1, is it difficult to get out of the channel’s specifications? Are there things you could have or liked to have said differently?
No, TF1 left me free. They trusted me even when I changed little things at the last moment. I had a royal peace. Television is a good educational medium for this type of subject. If this film had been released in cinemas, it would not have touched so many people. And I want to make films that are seen.
Affectedon TF1 this Thursday, September 22.