A few weeks after the release of the comedy “L’Empire”, Camille Cottin is starring in “Quelques jours pas plus”, a social comedy, in which she shares the bill with Benjamin Biolay, in his best role in the cinema.
What is it about ?
Arthur Berthier, rock critic relegated to general news after ransacking a hotel room, discovers that journalism is a combat sport. Sent to the hospital by a CRS while covering the evacuation of a migrant camp, he falls under the spell of Mathilde, the head of the Solidarité Exilés association and agrees, for a few days he believes, to host Daoud , a young Afghan.
This is a unique tandem starring in Few Days Not Plus, the first feature film by renowned casting director Julie Navarro. She surrounded herself with Benjamin Biolay and Camille Cottin, both fair and convincing in this social comedy. Their duo sparks and brings a lot of charm to this film.
Benjamin Biolay is perfect in this role of rock critic, with the false air of Philippe Maneuver, at once disillusioned, funny and charming. Camille Cottin is both sunny and endearing.
A mix of tones
With this social comedy, we navigate between different tones. There is humor, wit and a strong social background, which resonates with current events against a backdrop of immigration law. The plot of the film is reminiscent in certain aspects of a recently released film, namely A Difficult Year. As in the comedy by Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, it is the story of a man who will get closer to the associative community after falling in love with one of its activists.
A few days no more is an adaptation of a book by Marc Salbert, On the influence of throwing a minibar on humanitarian commitment (Le Dilettante). “I kept the spirit of the book, its humorous side and a certain lightness of tone but I also had to add elements that are closer to me, more intimate such as the associative terrain and a more social aspect. One thing led to another, Marc and I found a language, a method, and the exercise became fascinating.“, indicates Julie Navarro, director and co-writer, in the press kit.
To escape activism which is often didactic or moralizing, I chose to take a step aside.
“This story struck a chord with me.” And to add: “When you tackle a theme as challenging as this, you need a strong point of view. To escape activism which is often didactic or moralistic, I chose to take a step aside and “adopt the gaze of Arthur Berthier: this music journalist is certainly curious, open to the world. We are all or almost Arthur Berthiers, shocked by the misery of the world, having, for some of my generation, worn the “Touche” badge as teenagers not to my friend”, always ready to criticize institutions but whose commitment is limited to a few outbursts rarely followed by effect.
I needed this shift which brings comedy and saving humor.
I needed this shift which brings comedy and saving humor. I tried throughout the writing and then on the set to find the right tone: a balance between the harshness of reality and sometimes the life that prevails, and the laughter that follows, without falling into pathos nor farce.
A few days not more gives a large place to music, through the profession and the passion of the character played by Benjamin Biolay. Note the nice nods to Jean-Jacques Goldman. The original soundtrack is by Arnaud Rebotini (120 Beats per minute).
A few days more comes out this Wednesday, April 3, 2024.