NEWS: SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009

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Vincent and director Denis Dercourt visited Montreal last week to discuss their film, "Demain des l'aube," which recently premiered at the Montreal Festival du Nouveau Cinema. The film, which was an official selection in the Un Certain Regard category at the Cannes Film Festival this year, highlights a family drama in an unusual context. Vincent explains, "This film is about brotherhood. One brother (Matt) has managed his life and the other (Paul) has never cut the umbilical cord. It's quite disturbing, actually that there is a real world and an unreal world." The director adds, "I wanted to make this film a thriller and I wanted the viewer to be involved." Here are a few photos that appeared in the Montreal media.
 

On September 25th, Vincent was in Switzerland to receive an award. The Vaudoise Foundation for Culture recognizes renowned artists each year with scholarships and prizes. Vincent was awarded the prix du Rayonnement in the amount of 20,000 Swiss francs (about $20,000). The photo to the left. shows him posing with the other award recipients. I'll capsulize some of the comments from the press: First of all, he described receiving the award as "damn fun!". Born in Lausanne in 1964, he grew up between Penthaz and Cheseaux. After  an apprenticeship as a photographer, he left the shores of Lake Geneva to the quays of the Seine to become an actor. Like his father, who left Spain in search of a better life, Vincent had dreams as well. In a window on the Rue du Petit-Chênein in Lausanne, there is a portrait of Vincent taken the eve of his departure. He says,  "When I pass by this picture, I see a young man. Another man.... At the time, I dreamed of New York, but I did not speak English and I had no money. "

His career was meteoric in the 1990s with films such as Cyrano de Bergerac, Indochine and Queen Margot. His style and seduction in several costume films brought him fame. Vincent has always remembered the canton of Vaud and he could have easily forgotten his roots and those first stirrings of his childhood. Instead, he claims his memories are strong and he remains committed to his birthplace. Vincent  speaks about his childhood memories with great enthusiasm and a little melancholy. He says, "I am very attached to my Swiss roots. They include a sacred place for me - the farm of my childhood friend near Cheseaux." Vincent returns to Switzerland regularly as his family still lives there.

His life's journey has definitely been one of curiosity, never losing his taste for risk-taking. Besides his work as an actor and director, he went on to pursue his passion for writing and is now the author of three volumes of the comic book, "La Forêt". The award from the Vaudoise Foundation recognizes Vincent as an ambassador of the canton of Vaud and salutes his contribution to the cultural world.

On September 22, Vincent and Karine attended the premiere of Luc Besson's "The Cove". The rights to this documentary on the massacre of dolphins in Japan were acquired through Besson's production/distribution powerhouse EuropaCorp. Besson himself is a renowned diver, and as many of you know, is married to Karine's sister Virginie.
 

In an interview last month with Femme magazine, Vincent made some comments about his personal life. He says he lives a simple life with his wife and four children. When asked if they wanted to follow in their father's footsteps by becoming actors, he responded, "Of course, they think that, and I'm not sure what to think (smiling). My kids love lots of things in life. My greatest reward is seeing their passion for life. However, when I hear about an acting career, I tremble with fear. Two of my children will co-star with me in a film by my wife. It's the story of several characters whose destinies cross in Paris. It is dizzying to find myself in front of the camera with Iman, who is 10 years old and Roxane, who is 17." And does it make you fearful to be filmed by your wife? Vincent answers, "Of course! I need to give my best." He then goes on to explain how he feels today about his screen work - "The acting profession is back in full force in my life and I realize that I love it more than anything. I changed. I matured. I found the desire. The period where I was not happy in my work is behind me."

Speaking of Roxane, (stepdaughter to Vincent and daughter of Gerard Depardieu and Karine), here are some photos of her graduation from the International School of Paris back in May.
 

On August 25th director Denis Dercourt, actor Jeremie Renier and Vincent presented their movie "Demain des l'aube" at the UGC Brouckere Cinema in Brussels. The film will be released in theaters in Belgium tomorrow. Here are some photos taken of Vincent  during a Q&A session after the screening when he mingled with his fans.