Paris (AFP)

"Philosopher" for five evenings, Isabelle Adjani will perform on stage the praise of courage on the occasion of a reading of an essay by Cynthia Fleury, "a text that helps us as a natural anti-depressant", confides- she told AFP.

At the theater La Scala Paris (17-21 December), she will read "The End of Courage", published in 2010, with another actress, Laure Calamy.

The text "speaks to those who have lost their courage as we lose our glasses, and the way we can find a way where courage is reborn as a collective force, to escape the loneliness of failure," says Isabelle Adjani.

In a setting Nicolas Maury signed, the two interpreters camp a philosopher and a journalist who question their failings, before finally finding themselves on a common will to face obstacles at all costs.

"I bought this book before I knew the author, it was good for me, it helps us as a natural antidepressant," says the star.

"What I like is the way in which courage is revealed, what it has become, a text that resonates more than ever with our time. to say yes to life, even when everything seems on the side of no, "adds the actress, who plays pro bono," my little symbolic gift at the end of this difficult year ".

Two early readings had taken place a few months ago at the Palais de Tokyo, "to test the reaction of the public," she said, adding that in view of the receptivity and "unexpected" enthusiasm, it was decided to share this text again on the boards.

For the actress, "to take courage, is to accept to take your time, to be patient, and thus to be in opposition possibly to what society demands from us More than ever, we need so much art".

"We are in a hyperconnected society that separates us at the same time.This book helps us to bring ourselves back to ourselves," observes Isabelle Adjani, who, in a personal capacity, "likes to think that (she) has the courage to have the courage".

"For me, courage is a conviction, it's not a victory," she adds.

Isabelle Adjani, who has just directed Yamina Benguigui's latest feature film, will play next year the painter Suzanne Valadon, mother of Maurice Utrillo, in "To the marrow", written by Virginie Despentes and Santiago Amigorena, and that Safy will perform Nebbou.

© 2019 AFP