Mathieu Kassovitz Starrer ‘The Astronaut’ Bows in Cairo

Native audiences at Cairo Movie Pageant fell for Nicolas Giraud’s “The Astronaut,” applauding a number of instances throughout its world premiere on Saturday, despite the fact that critics have been much less enthused. Nevertheless it wasn’t the one sound that accompanied the screening, continuously interrupted by a cacophony of ringtones.

“What we shared right here in the present day was this distinctive expertise of watching a movie in a theater, collectively, an expertise we have to defend because it’s endangered all around the world. However what I wish to say to you, individuals from Egypt…,” began actor Hippolyte Girardot.

“…Flip off your telephones within the cinema! Goddamnit!,” added Mathieu Kassovitz throughout a Q&A that adopted, eliciting a hearty laughter from the room.

The movie – produced by Christophe Rossignon and Philip Boëffard (Nord-Ouest Movies) with Orange Studio dealing with the gross sales and Diaphana Distribution on board – is competing in Cairo’s worldwide competitors, with its pageant director Amir Ramses describing it as a “actually poetic story.”

“It’s a couple of man belonging to a different universe: identical to ‘The Large Blue.’ I had the identical tears [in my eyes] after I was watching this movie,” he advised the spectators, referring to Luc Besson’s 1988 tackle the rivalry between two champion free divers.

This time, nonetheless, Giraud is wanting up, not down.

It focuses on aeronautical engineer Jim (performed by the helmer himself), who has been dreaming of changing into an astronaut all his life. Unable to maneuver on, and regardless of his household’s reservations, he comes up with a somewhat shocking concept: he’ll construct his personal rocket.

“I don’t know the place this story got here from. Perhaps from the celebs,” mentioned a clearly moved Giraud.

“If you wish to obtain one thing, you need to keep true to your dream, no matter it’s. Me? Earlier than getting right here, I used to be a dental technician, I labored in a cinema promoting sweet and tearing the tickets. Imagine in your self. That’s an important factor,” he advised the viewers.

“To me, making this film was what constructing this rocket was to Jim. It felt precisely the identical.”

Giraud wrote Girardot and Kassovitz’s characters with the actors already in thoughts, he mentioned. Stéphane Cabel is credited as a co-writer.

“This [evening] is magical for me, as a result of it’s the primary time I’m sharing this film with them,” mentioned Giraud. Hélène Vincent, Bruno Lochet and Ayumi Roux additionally characteristic.

Kassovitz, forged as an skilled astronaut who helps Jim understand his formidable – or loopy – undertaking, has additionally delivered a masterclass on the pageant. Aside from showing within the likes of “Amélie” and “Munich” – quickly including Terrence Malick’s “The Means of the Wind” to his CV – the actor has additionally loved a profession as a director, making a splash with “La Haine” again in 1995.

However he wouldn’t thoughts venturing out into area both, even when the percentages weren’t precisely in his favor. Similar to within the movie.

“It’s my dream. That’s why I mentioned sure to the film,” he mentioned.

Previously, Kassovitz was additionally creating a undertaking set on an area station, at one level referred to as “MNP.”

“I spent 10 years creating it, spending time with astronauts, like Jean-François Clervoy. I had an opportunity to satisfy him and I’ve skilled wonderful issues with these guys. After some time, as a result of the film proved to be very difficult, I made a decision to not do it. My expertise with the astronauts was sufficient [for me].”

“However then the identical producer got here again, saying: ‘Hear, I’ve this child who’s going to make the film you needed to make, do you need to be part of it?’ My reply was: ‘In fact.’ I’m happy with it.”