In 2001, Gillian Anderson starred in an extraordinary costume film, “Chez lesheureux du monde”. The failure was so devastating and deeply unfair that the actress considered quitting her acting profession…
Gillian Anderson has been walking her figure on both the small and big screens for over thirty years now. If there is one oh-so-memorable role that largely contributed to putting her career into orbit, it is that of FBI agent Dana Scully in the cult series X-Files.
“I had the opportunity to play very iconic characters. That’s what gives meaning to the word icon. Without these characters, I probably wouldn’t have this label” confided the person concerned to the microphone of journalists in 2022, when she was invited to CANNESERIES.
Adding: “With Scully, there were definitely times during the ’90s where I felt like I had a responsibility as an inspirational role model for women and it was almost like a burden because I didn’t “I didn’t think I could live up to this gaze on me. I became paranoid at the idea of being caught in moments of weakness by the paparazzi.”
A devastating and deeply unfair failure
Between two X-Files seasons (the 8th and 9th), Gillian Anderson filmed Among the Happy People of the World; adaptation of a famous novel published in 1905 written by the novelist Edith Wharton, to whom we also owe The Time of Innocence which will be adapted by Martin Scorsese.
The story ? At the beginning of the 20th century, in the heart of New York high society where superficiality and hypocrisy reign, Lily Bart, a ravishing young woman at the height of her worldly glory, suddenly discovers the precariousness of her position, when her charm and beauty arouse lust. and jealousy. In search of a rich husband and eager to conform to the customs of her environment, Lily misses out on true love embodied by the unfortunate Lawrence Selden…
Let’s say it without trembling: in this film directed by the late Terence Davies, whose elegance and refinement have nothing to envy of time of innocence by Scorsese, the actress delivers an absolutely extraordinary performance.
She is supported by an exceptional cast, in the middle of which is a Dan Aykroyd like you’ve never seen him, a sensational Anthony LaPaglia, a wonderful Jodhi May, and a no less formidable Eric Stoltz, who plays Lawrence Selden, the thwarted love of Lili Bart.
Diaphana Films
Beneath the gilding and ostentatious luxury of a bitter and corseted little world, the story is truly that of an authentic social killing, carrying an emotional charge that would split stones in two.
But the film was an absolute financial disaster, and only grossed a little over $5 million at the international box office. During its first weekend of operation in the United States, Among the happy people of the world only raised $48,770. You read correctly. This shows the violence of the slap, which above all had the force of an uppercut. The film’s numerous nominations for various awards have changed absolutely nothing about this disaster.
“A rude awakening to the fickleness of this industry”
In fact, the failure of the film was so painfully felt by the actress that she considered quitting her acting career immediately.
“I thought about it recently, going to the Baftas and the Golden Globes. All these artists who put everything into the work: blood, sweat, tears, money. Putting their families second behind this singular vision and then… she is not nominated. I would have liked there to be a reward for the effort [sur ce film]” she confided to Guardian.
Anderson herself was the victim of some pretty scathing criticism over her performance in the film; and while it’s unclear exactly what criticism she’s referring to, she explains how it almost caused her to quit her career.
“A particularly terrible review of my performance almost made me quit acting. The combination of that and the bland reception was a real eye-opener for me, a rude awakening to the fickleness of the industry” she comments.
Judging by the low number of spectator ratings for this far too little-known film (barely 61!), there is still a lot of work to be done to evangelize spectators. Among the happy people of the world was only released on DVD a long time ago, and was never released on Blu-ray here. If you’ve never seen this gem, you know what you have to do.