2024-03-11 12:55:55
We discovered the Luxembourgish actress Vicky Krieps dans le magnifique Phantom Thread. Since then, she has alternated between good films and we will see her again in the next Viggo Mortensen. Meeting during the Luxembourg Film Festival.
It’s true that you got your role in Phantom Thread thanks to insomnia by Paul Thomas Anderson?
I don’t know if it was insomnia, but what is certain is that one night, Paul discovered one of my German films streaming, The maid Lynn, which I really like, where my character hides under people’s beds and finds himself fascinated by a dominatrix. A crazy film, very arty, and above all very confidential. And the crazy thing is that PTA saw it!
How did it work with Daniel Day-Lewis?
We didn’t rehearse, he didn’t want us to see each other before filming. We just did a first reading in London, magnificent, a magical moment, with him and Paul. We read, and the words came to life. Then they offered me the role and I said, “ Yes, obviously, but who else can play this role ” (laughter). I apologized, but it seemed obvious to me.
You weren’t afraid of being devoured by Daniel Day-Lewis?
I come from a village, so I have my feet on the ground, it’s very ingrained in me. Daniel has a habit of devouring everything, but I just kept it simple, myself. I didn’t try to be on his level, only to forget everything I knew about cinema to be me.
Could the word “Rebel” qualify you?
It’s always at the heart of my characters. In my new film, Till the end of the world, my character is once again a rebel. But it is in the nature of the actor to be rebellious. I always question things: my character, the director, the success of a shot… On a set, I’m not easy. I want to make good films, which question our feelings, what we are, so I fight every day to make the best film possible, whether it’s with Daniel Day-Lewis or Viggo Mortensen. I like the friction…
Your filmography is eclectic to say the least and you alternate The 3 Musketeersauteur cinema with Mathieu Amalric, or American films like Old.
After Phantom Thread, I refused all the big machines. I was really offered a lot of money and I had to say no, it was so indecent, they wanted to buy me. I am very poor when I could have been very rich! I didn’t advertise, I’m not the face of a big brand because I was against it. This irritated me, I didn’t want people to see me on screens or posters any more. But I’m softening, maybe I’ll change my mind…
Do you live in Berlin?
Living in Berlin is much cheaper than the United States or Paris and that’s great. I go out in the street and no one cares, there are video stores, and they have all the films: I love it! I’m going to dance at Berghain (legendary club from Berlin, a former power station, near Ostbahnhof, with a drastic selection at the entrance, Ed.). I go there all night and in the morning I take the children to school.
You are jury at the Luxembourg Film Festival. Why?
Pour Alexis Juncosa (the artistic director of the festival, NDR) that I love. I have supported the Lux Film Fest since day one, and this year finally I was able to come. Festivals are important. Cinema is dying and the only place where you can see all the colors of the palette is at festivals. I shoot arty films but they are more and more difficult to edit. Platforms are changing everything.
Alexis Juncosa told me that you were the “ girl from the country »
The girl from Bled? Indeed, I am the queen of the village in Luxembourg and the Luxembourgish soul is a peasant soul.
I heard you sing?
Yes. I recorded everything but I don’t know what to do with it yet. Recently I made an installation in Los Angeles. The viewer could walk among the paintings and he had my songs in his headphones. I didn’t tell anyone about it, without any publicity. I do, without saying things.
What do you think of #MeToo and what is happening in France with Judith Godrèche?
It’s good that things are moving, fortunately. The problem is complex, but I know it well because I am a woman. The problem is global, in all professions. How, in a society, can we allow a person, because he has power, to gain ascendancy over others? We need to talk about it and change it.
A word about Till the end of the worldthe western by Viggo Mortensen which will soon be released in France?
I love it. It’s a very honest film, with a beautiful strong woman character at the heart of the story. Viggo is a magnificent director.
In the first shot of the film, you die, and a tear rolls down your cheek.
It was not planned. Viggo loved this plan. We did other takes, much better for technical reasons, but Viggo kept the one with the tear…
www.luxfilmfest.lu
Till the end of the world : release on 1is May
By Marc Godin
Photo Margaux Gatti – Luxembourg City Film Festival 2024
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#Vicky #Krieps #friction