B Y R I C H C L I N E
When Melvil Poupaud approaches, the immediate sensation is that he's
just a little too gorgeous - tall, slight, open and friendly, with an
intense but unthreatening stare. He looks you right in the eye as he
talks, unafraid to say what he thinks (including dissing his costars),
casually lighting a cigarette in a way only a Frenchman could make look
cool (it dangles from his lips for about five minutes before he lights
it). Hollywood stardom hasn't hit him yet. But it probably will, unless
he continues to make daring choices in the films he makes. Whatever
happens, he'll remain a serious heartthrob for both boys and girls for a
long time...
How did you get involved with Francois Ozon and Time to Leave?
I met Ozon and he told me about the film and talked to me about the
character. So I was involved before there was a script. Some of the
character is like me, the way he holds on to relationships and thinks
through issues, but I'm a lot more relaxed and easy going.
Did you hesitate about playing a gay character, especially when it came to the sex scenes?
I was nervous as it came time to film the first sex scene, being naked
with someone else on the set. It was my first real sex scene, but once
we got there the boy was more nervous that I was, so I had to help him
through it. Ozon had planned it very carefully, it wasn't vulgar at all,
there was no peeping tom attitude on the set. But it was hard to film.
It took a long time, and Ozon had to keep us relaxed.
I had no hesitation about taking a gay role like this. My mother's gay
and I grew up around transvestites. It was crazy! When I was younger I
was more frightened about what roles I took. Several years ago I started
to pursue a role in Ozon's Water Drops on Burning Rocks, but it was too
gay and too intense. I'm older now. But I went through that stage,
questioning it and working it out. Now I'm married and we have a child.
But I still identify with a good role. It's about the script, not my
career.
The hardest thing about the film was losing the weight as we went along.
I had a planned diet, because as the story progresses I had to get
thinner, because the character was ill. So I really felt tired and weak,
which helped get me into the character.
Describe working with screen icon Jeanne Moreau.
It was quite intimidating to go onto a set with her, but she's a pure
professional and it was great. She was thoroughly involved in her
character and the film, and even worked with Ozon to rewrite some of her
scenes. We filmed that sequence at a house out in the country -- the
movie was shot in sequence -- and we had a good time together talking
during dinner, telling stories. She told stories about Antonioni,
everyone.
How have audiences reacted to the film?
In France it has done very well. The people there love Ozon. Europeans
have been overwhelmingly positive about it. I have no idea how the
Americans will react. Next month I'm going with the film to a festival
