CINEMA

JULIETTE BINOCHE ON WORDS

By Crash redaction

THE MOST HONOURED AND ARTSY OF FRENCH ACTRESSES (AND NOT ONLY IN MOVIES…): JULIETTE BINOCHE LENDS HER XL TALENT TO PAINTING AND DANCE WITH JUST AS MUCH VERVE. “PORTRAITS IN-EYES” GATHERS 68 REPRESENTATIONS OF CHARACTERS SHE’S INTERPRETED AND DIRECTORS SHE’S WORKED WITH. IT’S AN EMOTIONAL VOYAGE THROUGH THE GREAT ENCOUNTERS THAT HAVE INFLUENCED HER CAREER. THE EXPO ALSO GIVES HER A CHANCE TO EXHIBIT HER WORKS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, WHO CAN ALSO SEE HER AT THE THÉÂTRE MARIGNY ALONGSIDE AKRAM KHAN, THE BRITISH CHOREOGRAPHER WITH WHOM SHE’S PRODUCED “IN-I,” A CONTEMPORARY DANCE SHOW ON THE THEMES OF PASSION AND MEETING. NOT TO MENTION HER NEWEST PROJECT WITH ABBAS KIAROSTAMI. JULIETTE FROM A TO Z: THE WHOLE STORY WITH FRANCE’S PARAMOUNT DIVA…

Akram Khan

A world where our bodies communicate in trust and merciless abandon, where words enter only with difficulty. The moments of intimacy and separation we’ve shared have propelled us along our inner paths, like two exiles on the same mountain.

Alber Elbaz

His heart must be round as the Earth. He doesn’t look at women, he senses them. With his hands he cuts fabrics to fit my body’s contours; it’s astonishing to see him at work; he’s a sculptor. He lives through his materials, and his colors give life to my skin. It’s always perfect, done with grace and generosity. He’s devoid of ego, an artist.

Beauty

True beauty is unconscious of its own beauty, spontaneous, sober, given to self-abandon, a presence amidst the commonplace, a poem by Michaux, the voice of Laurent Terzieff, the sigh of a landscape. The truth of Ingmar Bergman’s films gives me my sense of beauty.

Career

If it’s the path to take, I’ll take it. I don’t ask questions, I go. I search not to find, but to recognize. What? That within me which knows perfectly. And everything lies in the unknown.

Christophe Robin

He creates hair colors, he creates products from root to tip. He’s one of the most generous men I know.

Body

The Chinese refer to the Great Bear, the five principal organs hidden within us… The body works for us, gives us the tools to go on, to get our hands dirty, to transform, to give ourselves… The Qi (Ch’i) which surrounds us acts as our invisible force while our muscles, tendons, and blood bend and flow to realize our desires. The body is our sanctuary, one that we must discover. The body cannot betray us, it reveals us.

The Certified Copy (Copie conforme)

My new film with Abbas Kiarostami. A friend for life.

Dance

No career plans.

Ego

Necessary to surpass oneself. The terrain of being. The first “I am.” The ego is a means and not an end. When it knows its place, it’s useful; when it forgets its place, life does what’s necessary to check it.

Childhood

Chaos, ups and downs, but also joie de vivre, inventing games, music everywhere, dancing on ragged carpets, singing at the top of my lungs, complicated drawings – everything was good. Girls in a mess, 808 69 55 was our phone number.

François Cheng

A member of the French Academy, but he’s really from the academy of the heart and mind. His poetry, calligraphy, and books delight me every time; he’s one of life’s gifts.

France

A parent whom we must leave but who always stays with us. Knowing how to disobey should be a part of civil law. Long live José Bové for having the courage to raise our awareness. And don’t dwell on the moments of forgotten tact.

Grégory Colbert

An independent artist who invents his form through his films where dance, music, nature, and animals commune in total freedom. He makes us see and feel what we have forgotten. Art and ecology.

Godard

A reference.

Hollywood

Unfair trade.

Men

In a transition phase.

Jubilation

An inner pact.

Malgowska Szumowska

A highly-talented, Polish director; I’m working on his next film this coming March in Paris.

Théâtre Marigny

The next and last step, which I hope will display a sense of intimacy. Robert Redford wants to film the show.

Michael Haneke

Over a glass of good wine, we often have the pleasure of sharing our views on film, life, artists. Suzie, his wife, is never far from our thoughts, neither are my children; with him, family is never far.

Minghella

Truly, Madly, Deeply is probably his masterpiece. He possessed an uncommon intelligence. I miss him terribly; I live in his presence, it’s my only way to cope with his absence.

Fashion

A necessary evil? In reality I like feeling fabrics, colors, and forms against my body; it tells me something about myself and the designer. I don’t like shopping (except for my kids), but I love trying on dresses designed by great artists and dreaming of being able to put them on every morning!

Nudity

I used to think it was an obligation in film, like the director had a right over me. Negotiations were always difficult, but since I have a go-getter attitude, I didn’t want to be afraid, so I made the story and the character more important than my modesty. The nude scene is an act of offering oneself.

Oscar

A second cousin.

Qigong

A world that’s now opening up to me. I found my Chinese master in London: Zhixing Wang. After the dance show at the Théâtre Marigny, I decided to explore this new world.

Red Carpet

Gilles Jacob atop the steps. There are so many flashes it’s like a lightning storm. Everyone’s yelling and screaming, you don’t know where to look, you forget why you’re even there. And then your partner’s hand brings you back to consciousness. Yes, we’re here for a reason. Learning to let the still camera love you is a difficult process. I prefer movie cameras, the movement is more natural for me.

Rendez-vous

André Téchiné didn’t miss my rendezvous. I miss him, I never see him anymore.

Sex

I don’t separate it from love.

Style

I don’t think I have any. If I do, I’m completely unaware. No style might be its own kind of style. I don’t like burdens.

Painting

I’m going to continue on large surfaces. I already have the material.

Aging

A pact with self for the best and for what’s to come. I hope to die around 100 in good health, like a wrinkled, old apple that’s kept its scent.

PHOTOGRAPHY Frank Perrin / FASHION Armelle Leturcq

HAIR Karin Bigler / MAKE UP Celine Planchenault