One World Cinema

Interview with French actor Eric Elmosnino, who portrays French singer, Serge Gainsbourg amazingly well, in “Gainsbourg, Je T’aime…Moi Non Plus”.  

Q: Did you receive any reaction from any of the Gainsbourg’s on this film?

A: Eric: “Charlotte Gainsbourg said it was too difficult, and too sensitive for her to watch the film, and she can’t see the film.  You have to understand, Gainsbourg is an icon in France.  This is a fairytale about Gainsbourg, but the film is very true to the story, because a lot of the things really happened, but you can’t actually say for sure that that Gainsbourg was actually the real Gainsbourg. It’s like a fantasy. It’s an homage from one artist to another one.”

Q: Did you have to take singing lessons to prepare for this role?

A: “Yes, I worked a lot on my singing.  The songs from the end, that was more difficult.  It seems so simple, but was very difficult for me. The really difficult thing that you can’t actually catch.  I wanted to hear myself sing the songs. ”

Q: Were you a fan of his before making the film?

A: “I wasn’t before the film, but now I am a big fan and listen to his songs everyday.  Fan isn’t the right word to describe it, he is now a friend, a companion.  He is an icon, he entered people’s everyday life through television, and radio.  We have a comedic actor, who is also an icon, you hear about them all the time. These people open doors by being provocative. Their liberated people, and all the freedom came from them.”

Q: Are there any American singer/songwriters that are similar to Serge?

A: “Maybe Lenny Bruce, the film with Dustin Hoffman, but I don’t know.  Maybe, Bob Dylan, but I don’t know.” “In regards to Gainsbourg, you had people who hated him, they thought he was very dirty, very provocative.  When he was alive, his personality was hurting his work, but now 30 years later, what exists is only his work, not the man. It’s like a rebirth in music.  I heard some people from the audience say, ‘now I sort of like Gainsbourg, after watching this film'”.

Q: Who do you think the love of his Serge’s life was? 

A: “The producers wanted a happy ending. Serge was really happy to have Charlotte. He taught Charlotte how to play piano.”

INTERVIEW ON YOUTUBE: 

There are three more chances to see this film at the 2010 “Tribeca Film Festival”.

Monday, April 26, 2010 at 7:30pm at Village East Cinema, 181 2nd Avenue at 12th Street

Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 2:15pm at Village East Cinema, 181 2nd Avenue at 12th Street

and 

Friday, April 30, 2010 at 6:00pm at Village East Cinema, 181 2nd Avenue at 12th Street