1 million entries. This milestone was reached last Tuesday, for The fifth week of the operation. Out of 240 opening theaters, the film is now approaching 400. For a first film, carried by a star cast in their countries but little known in France, it is more than just a success. Ruben Alves, French-Portuguese director, 33 years old. Her mother is the building's caretaker. His father is a builder. Like the Ribeiro couple Golden Cage. They live their secret life in a building in the beautiful neighborhoods of Paris, until the day a letter from a notary announces the inheritance. A house in Portugal, their dream. Except no one wants them to leave. And they themselves are no longer confident about it.
“This film is exactly us. It worked because thousands of Portuguese recognized themselves.” Hermano Sanchezwho acted for ten years 926 Portuguese Associations in France. Ruben Alves came to see him two and a half years ago, with his script in hand. He was looking for support. It was a big gamble. No one ever talked about the Franco-Portuguese community. The film could have been shot in a cartoonish way. “I leave with a heavy heart.”
Targeting the Portuguese community via associations, before the release on April 24: the strategy was therefore essential for Pathé, the distributor. “Some will watch the movie again four or five times, sometimes with flags or T-shirts,” he says. Hugo Guillén project Zazi movies, a childhood friend of the director who, he says, had to encourage him to trust him. “His first script was about French expatriates in Lisbon. ‘Very well, but who cares?’ I replied. Out of modesty, he refrained from talking about his family.
“Revival of the history of Franco-Portuguese society”
“Because it is above all a film about the family. “We never wanted to make a community film,” continues the producer. Yes, there are “two ways to watch the film,” but it would not have been possible to reach the million had it not been for the participation of the French audience, had it not been for the participation of Portuguese origin in the phenomenon No doubt thanks The “feel-good” effect. From this comedy.
“Because there are real connections! There have never been so many French people in Portugal before,” confirms Hermano Sánchez, who is organizing a special show on June 10 in Paris “to celebrate one and a half million entries.” So a political issue! “I have no problem saying that,” he replied immediately. Our image is fed to the general public, and the anxiety can be real. Because everyone loves the Portuguese in France. The question is: Do we respect them?
For him, this film can “represent the history of Franco-Portuguese society.” It goes so far as to quote Welcome to Ch'tis And The truth if I lie. “Completely excessive” analogy, exclaimed Hugo Guillén, who prefers to remember his success Women, sixth floor. I remember the release in Portugal, in August, “which was highly anticipated there now!”.
