René

Before Alain Cavalier started shooting this film, he had to explain that it would not be a documentary. In retrospect, he may have to explain that it is not a drama film. There are many mixtures between documentary and drama, but this may well be one of the strangest and most refined.The film was made-to-measure for the actor Joël Lefrançois. Cavalier had for a long time planned to write a scenario for Lefrançois, with whom he had cooperated previously. However he did not immediately find a good subject. Cavalier was looking for an original angle and theme which had not been tackled very often in books of films. In the meantime, Lefrançois became entangled in a personal crisis, that expressed itself partly in overweight. When the actor was coming close to the dangerous weight of 155 kilos, Cavalier decided to intervene. Recording the necessary slimming cure and acting out Lefrançois’ personal problems at work and with his family were to be the starting point for the film. A dramatised documentary in which the struggle of an actor with his role in life is approached with captivating authenticity. Shot digitally with a minimal crew, but one that was augmented with a dietician.