Guest of honor at the 46th edition of the Cinemed festival, the actor came to present his first film as a director. The opportunity for a fascinating meeting where he delivered his vision of cinema.
A natural presence, a warm voice, a smile that is never far away. Actor in around fifty films, Reda Kateb came to present his first feature film as director, “Sur un fil”, this Thursday, at the Diagonal. And the room was too small to accommodate the public.
Fortunately, some were able to catch up a few hours later at the Rabelais center, where a meeting was planned with the 47-year-old director.
His first short film, Pitchoune (2015) was screened on this occasion. The day of a clown responsible for making children laugh at a campervan show. “It was a bit like my job at the time and I lived this story”he confided.
The scenario is similar to that developed in “Sur un fil”, where a young woman, a street circus artist, discovers the work of professional clowns in the hospital.
“It was while reading “Le Rire Médecin: Journal du Docteur Girafe” that I said to myself that there was material to make a feature film of it, explains Reda Kateb. The author, Caroline Simonds, invited me to the Necker hospital. I knew from day one that I was going to make a film about it.”
“For films, I haven’t made a mistake often”
Last night, during the meeting hosted by Karim Ghyhiati, director of Occitanie Films, the director confided “being on stage at the age of eight”, alongside his father who was a theater actor.
Then he talked about his major roles, starting with “Hippocrates” (2014). “I, who played a lot of bandit roles, found myself wearing the doctor’s coat and it changed the way people looked at me.”
He then cited “Django” (2017), “Hors Normes” (2019), but also “Omar the strawberry” (2023): “it was my first filming in Algeria, this country that my father had left in the exile and who recognized me.
“For me to commit to a film, I must first like the script, then my role must correspond to a new adventure, and finally I must meet the director. When we had coffee together , I know if I’m going to make the film, and I haven’t been wrong often!”
Last night in the room was director David Oelhoffen, who directed him in “Loin des hommes” (2014) and “Enemies Brothers” (2018). “We are both looking for the same thing in films: to uncover what makes up the essence of a person,” concluded Reda Kateb.
“On a Film” will be released on October 30.
