Florian Zeller brings his play “Le Père” to the screen and calls it “The Father”.
The author, of which it is the first film in the cinema, entrusted to Anthony Hopkins the role of a man suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
This shattering descent into hell earned them a triumph at the Oscars together.
This success encouraged Florian Zeller to pursue his career as a filmmaker.
It is finally arriving in French theaters!
Florian Zeller's
The Father
had seen its release postponed by the Covid-19 epidemic but that did not prevent this beautiful film from enjoying a breathtaking career abroad.
With a host of awards including two Oscars for his screenplay co-written with Christopher Hampton and for his star Anthony Hopkins.
“What a joy to finally come out to the cinema, this magical place where we share emotions with strangers who are less so at the end of the screening!
», Says Florian Zeller to
20 Minutes
.
From the patient's point of view
This adaptation of his play
Le Père
(2012) allows him to know a fairy tale for his first film production.
He describes the experience of a man whom Alzheimer's disease takes away from those close to him and in particular from his daughter played by Olivia Colman.
“I tried to show the disease from the patient's point of view, to share what he feels.
I wanted to give the public a different experience, ”explains Florian Zeller.
Like his hero, the spectator gradually loses his footing in a world where he no longer has any benchmarks.
Anthony Hopkins' surprise
“Anthony Hopkins, whom I dreamed of in this role, took incredible risks to embody him with admirable courage by agreeing to face his own mortality,” admires Florian Zelller.
The 83-spring comedian delivers a performance far removed from his character of Hannibal Lecter, a perverse and fascinating killer who won him his first Oscar in 1992. “This second award for Anthony was a real twist!
recognizes Florian Zeller.
I didn't expect it at all and neither did he.
The deeply moved actor paid tribute to Chadwick Boseman, who died last August and was Oscar favorite for
The Blues of Ma Rainey.
Can't wait for the rest!
The nightmare that his hero experiences with failing reason brought luck to Florian Zeller.
If he was still waiting for his statuette to be delivered to him on the day of our interview (with the fear that customs would confiscate it!), He has already gone back to work to bring to the screen another of his pieces,
The Son
, which he will shoot in New York with Laura Dern and Hugh Jackman in the main roles.
“
The Father
changed my life.
This success does not intimidate me: it makes me want to continue my momentum, ”he admits.
We can't wait to see where it takes him.
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