The Vincent |
WEBDO: L'ILLUSTRE Magazine (Swiss) November 6, 2002 |
The romantic young man with the Swiss passport continues his international career as an actor and satisfies his desire to direct. At 38 years old, he is about to become a father for the second time and welcomes this magazine journalist into his exclusive Parisian residence. On a Friday morning, Vincent Perez pushes the door open onto a bar-restaurant on Montaigne Avenue in VIIIe district of Paris. Dressed in black and wearing attractive eyeglasses, he is smiling and looks relaxed despite a charged timetable between the promotion of Peau d'ange and the filming of Fanfan la Tulipe. Fifty years after the original version, which matched up Gerard Philipe and Gina Lollobrigida, he plays the title role with Penelope Cruz as his co-star.
After coffee, Vincent Perez proposes that I follow him to his luxurious apartment, a few meters away on the same avenue. "It is the first time that I have brought a journalist to my home. But since we are Swiss, we can trust each other," jokes this native of Cheseaux, in the canton of Vaud. "Nevertheless, I have to inform you that it's a little disorderly with the children..."
"I had already directed my wife in a previous short film. It is different when you're looking at a person you're in love with and whom you know so well. It was more difficult for Karine to surprise me." Not only does he adore directing, but the profession of a director seems to help him reconsider his career as an actor. "After having played in about thirty films, one forgets the chance you have in creating real emotional characters. It's fascinating!"
Among his projects, this adopted Parisian, with a Spanish father and German mother, still shows an interest in his country of origin, in spite of the loss of his Vaud accent. The proof - he is passionate about the William Tell hero. "It is an old dream of a child, even if Americans have approached me several times with script proposals on this Swiss legend. I am writing a synopsis on this famous character." If Vincent Perez does not see himself as director of such a project, he readily cherishes the idea of playing William Tell on the big screen. "I was always attracted by heroes and their legends. However, William Tell has the same roots as me in a certain way. This is why I would like this role, a little like Antonio Banderas as Zorro," says Vincent with a smile. Then his clear eyes are lost in thinking as he's reminded of the open-air production on William Tell in Interlaken back in 1982. So his Swiss past influences his professional choices! Before arming himself with a crossbow on the big screen, Vincent will star with Sophie Marceau in Je Reste next January. The cinematographic reunion of the romantic couple (previously together in Fanfan)will be appreciated by the general public. And the release of Fanfan la Tulipe is planned for spring 2003. This large production by Luc Besson should be a world success.
[Interview by Frederic Nejad] |