The actor, known to the greatest number for the schoolboy duo Eric and Ramzy, with Eric Judor, plays the main role, this time with finesse, of "Youssef Salem is successful", a film about the publishing industry. , signed Baya Kasmi (screenwriter of "Name of People" and "The Class Struggle").

His character is a writer who finally finds success when he decides to write a novel about the taboos and failings of his family of modest origin, parents from the Maghreb and their three children who grew up in a city near Marseilles.

"The character is really close to me, he has his ass between two chairs", between the artistic milieu "and his traditional family to which he is attached", confides Ramzy Bedia to AFP.

"It's the same in all families: we want to emancipate ourselves, to become someone, and there, when we become known, it fucks the mess".

Like the character, "I feel like I was raised in a 1960s family where we don't say bad words, we don't talk about ass, we don't bring a sleeping girl back to home", says Ramzy Bedia.

"I have never felt as much love as from my parents", and yet "we did not speak to each other, we never said to each other: + I love you dad + like in the great films. (... ) On the other hand, the reproaches, the + stand up straight, be a man +, that was fine!

Ramzy replies to his sister Melha

Revisiting with real comic finesse the theme of "class defectors", dear to the Nobel Prize for Literature Annie Ernaux, "Youssef Salem" makes its honey of the ambiguities of success for those who do not come from the seraglio.

So many situations that spoke to Ramzy Bedia, whose parents are both "very proud" and not impressed: "When I get home, it's over, there's nothing left!", Laughs the one who grew up in a popular district of Gennevilliers.

"I have to get up to get a coffee, I become the little boy of twelve again! At home, their gaze does not change, they do not manage to see me known".

The actors Ramzy Bedia (g) and Eric Judor during the presentation of their film "Seuls Two", May 27, 2008 in Lille © FRANCOIS LO PRESTI / AFP/Archives

The film serves as family therapy for Ramzy, who gives the answer to his younger sister, Melha Bedia, actress and comedian.

The actor, who has never hidden having maintained a difficult relationship with the celebrity of the latter, says today "relieved" to see her succeed.

"I put obstacles in her way, I didn't want her to do that, because I was afraid that she wouldn't be able to do it and that she would be unhappy".

On screen as in life, "we spend our time insulting each other", he laughs.

"In the family, for everyone, I'm the patriarch, I'm respected, but she takes me for an old nerd! She tells me the truth to my face! But hey, we're all someone's nerd! “, he philosophizes.

A meeting with Ramzy cannot end without a question about Eric Judor and the cult duo they formed on stage and on screen ("La Tour Montparnasse infernale", "Seuls two", "Steak"...) .

"We each breathe on our own, we become a little ourselves... but we are dying to do something again!", he says.

Until then, he promises an upcoming return of Eric and Ramzy in … an ad for the fast-food chain Quick.

"It's important to stay popular, people go to Quick a lot more than to Chanel!" Ramzy laughs.

"Finally, if they call me for Chanel, I'm going on the run, I promise!".

© 2023 AFP