Judy Garland. Its name immediately reminds moviegoers of the golden age of Hollywood, the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and its emblematic musicals. But behind the flamboyant career of the actress and singer (who became a world star at the age of 16 with "The Wizard of Oz") hides a tormented and exciting fate, a life marked by many injuries . It is this little-known aspect of Judy Garland, and in particular the last year of her life, which is tackled in the film "Judy", in theaters on Wednesday, February 19, in partnership with Europe 1.
>>> An unrecognized period in the life of Judy Garland
In 1969, Judy Garland has been performing on stage and in the cinema for over forty years, captivating spectators around the world with her alertness, generosity and magnificent voice. However, it has nothing to do with the child star of the 30s and the great actress of the 40s and 50s. By dint of having to fight on a daily basis, she became fickle and, as the professional proposals became more rare, she went into debt and lost her house. In order to provide for her young children, Judy Garland agreed to perform in London for five weeks at the Talk of the Town, a trendy cabaret and restaurant.
According to Tom Edge, screenwriter of the film, London was in many ways a last chance for the singer: "London was one of the few places where people still had a good image of Judy and kept a pretty bright memory of her" , he specifies. "For Judy, this opportunity was a lifeline and a way to silence her detractors and to prove to the world and to herself that she still had all the qualities to perform on stage."
Director Rupert Goold says: "What interested me was to show how we can find a balance between legend and the share of humanity and reality - between mother and myth. What seemed to me deeply human, that’s how the script explores Judy's need to find love and a home - after all, as the saying goes, “one is only really good at home” - and to find a normal life".
>>> In the skin of Judy Garland
A fan of Judy Garland for a very long time, Renée Zellweger immediately agreed to play her on screen. It was an opportunity - and a challenge - that she could not pass up. "I am one of the millions of people who, over the generations, have been passionate about her," said the actress. "She is adored and arguably considered the greatest artist of all time," she adds.
Renée Zellweger, who won the Oscar for best actress for this role on February 10, was seduced by the fact that the plot of the film differs from the traditional structure of the biopic to focus on a particular moment of his journey. "I told myself that it was an opportunity to explore a dimension that we don't often consider when we think of this unusual personality," she points out. "It was what she gave off when she was on stage and what it cost her. It was a time in her life when she worked because she needed it, but physically she needed rest Her voice is also what she destroys in order to take care of her children. "
The film tries to understand why the concerts shocked Judy Garland so much. "Most people play a role when they are in front of the camera or an audience," notes Renée Zellweger. "In my opinion, Judy, she revealed herself as she was".