Vanessa Paradis is an icon. She has been a singer, a model, then an actress. The Joe le taxi singer has come a long way since France first discovered her. The iconic face of Chanel, her interests lie as much in fashion as in music and cinema. She discovered the latter in the spring of 1989, at the age of 16, as she took on the role of a slightly lost college girl named Mathilde in Jean-Claude Brisseau's Noce Blanche (English: White Wedding). This role—seen as a challenging one for the actress—won her the César Award for Most Promising Actress the following year. Over thirty years—and twenty films—later, Vanessa Paradis is as fascinated as ever with the ever so strong and particular turmoils of adolescence. In Hugo P. Thomas's Juniors, she plays the mother of a young boy lost in that murky time between adulthood and childhood. Here is Vogue's interview with the actress and director.
Interview with Vanessa Paradis and Hugo P. Thomas
Vogue: How did the idea for this film come about?
Hugo P. Thomas: I wanted to make a film about my adolescence and about adolescence in the countryside in general, which is something rather peculiar today since you're so cut off from everything while still having access thanks to the internet and social media. It's a paradox that I found very interesting. I've been trying to make a film out of the idea for a long time, picking up scenes, characters and dialogues here and there… But I was missing the starting point. Then one day, I stumbled upon a documentary about those people that—for various reasons—pretend to have a serious illness, and I wondered if that could fit into my story. In the end, I thought it was all rather logical.
As an actress, what did you like about this project?
Vanessa Paradis: The story of these teenagers really touched me. Imagining these young people living in the countryside, far from everywhere, who get bored and end up lying in an effort to add beauty to their lives, in spite of the implications. Taking on a lie like that, it's really where things become difficult. After that, you can't stop lying and hurting people around you… At the same time, they're still just teenagers, they don't really know how to deal with themselves, with others, and with life. The story is told with a lot of humor and kindness. You relate very quickly to the characters, putting yourself in their shoes and understanding them because the teenage years are such a strong and particular time in everyone's life. Meeting Hugo convinced me too. He spoke a lot about cinema and completely convinced me to want to be a part of his film.
What made Vanessa Paradis the perfect mother to your main character?
Hugo P. Thomas: I knew that the whole cast was made up of amateur actors. Just teenagers who have never acted, and even the adults are played by people I scouted in the streets. With that, I wanted a great actress. I find it so fascinating to mix those two worlds. Of course, I knew that Vanessa Paradis was an excellent actress, and had no worry at all about her appearing disconnected from the film's universe. I knew that with her, nothing would seem fake. She radiates this certain straightforwardness in spite of her iconic status. It all happened in a very simple and enjoyable way.
Can you tell us about your role?
Vanessa Paradis: She's a mother raising her teenage son alone. In the beginning, she had a different dream of what her life would be like; the nuclear family with a husband at her side, a father for her son, a beautiful house in the country… That didn't go to plan. She's a nurse, works a lot, and does everything alone, so she isn't at home all the time to look after her son, who is at an age where she feels like he's slipping through her fingers. She worries about him.
Your characters, who are at once lovable and misunderstood, are complex.
Hugo P. Thomas: I like the idea that filmgoers won't be exactly sure of how to feel about the main characters, in terms of empathy. They need to question themselves, wonder whether they might have done the same thing, whether the character is a good person. I can't write characters any different, otherwise I feel like it's too easy. I want them to do things that are morally questionable, so they can learn something from it. That's how I empathize with people, in any case. By recognizing that they are imperfect.
What do you remember from filming?
Vanessa Paradis: Filming with an amateur cast was rather novel. But whether you're a professional or an amateur, we're all working towards the director's vision, all looking to him in order to take the film where he wants it to go. We all end up on the same level, and that's beautiful. A film is all about teamwork. It's a living experience.
What would you say to someone wanting to see the film?
Vanessa Paradis: Over and above the countryside setting, the film speaks about solitude, boredom, not knowing what to do with yourself. Sometimes even in a big city where we have everything at our fingertips, we hold back from doing certain things because we overthink. Anyone can see themselves in this film, whether they're already an adult or still a teenager. We've all felt it, that feeling of not measuring up, of having to lie to please people… It's a universal topic. And this group of teenagers has been filmed with so much kindness and humor that it's easy to love them.
What is your next cinematic dream?
Vanessa Paradis: A musical. Acting, dancing and singing in a film is a dream for me.
The film Juniors is currently in theaters in France.
Translated by Jack Pownall.
Read more on Vogue.fr:
How Barbie’s production designers created the plastic, fantastic world of Barbie Land
Gal Gadot to play Cleopatra on screen
From greatness to decadence, this documentary tells the story of the Versace clan
More from Vogue France on YouTube:
