Coda: the sounds of silence It is the remake that Hollywood made of the French film The Bélier family, by Eric Lartigau. The American version swept the 2022 Oscars, where it won three awards, including Best Picture, and this made many want to see ‘the original’, released in 2014 in France with great critical and public success: it raised more than 7.5 million euros. The film tells the story of Paula, a 16-year-old girl whose parents and little brother are deaf.She is essential in family life, helping them communicate with others. Paula has a special voice and singing talents, and despite the bewilderment of her parents, who cannot hear her, she will make a decision that will change everyone’s life. “The film is about pursuing your dreams,” says the director.
Louane Emera’s great debut
The tone of the film, marked by naturalness and humor, is the hook, but it is necessary to highlight the performances of the protagonists, especially in Louane Emera, who gets into Paula’s skin. For her it was her debut in film and with her excellent work she won the Cesar Award for Best New Actress. The success on the big screen was added to the one he had on television, since two years before the film was released he won the contest The Voice.“The first few days of filming I was terrified and we had to redo several scenes. I had never acted before and the director asked me to be as natural as possible, but having the camera on you at all times made me very nervous and it was hard for me to be natural.” Luca Gelberg, who plays Paula’s brother, is profoundly deaf and also had no experience in front of the camera, but he was so well supported that he soon felt delighted on the set.
A very complicated shoot
The parents’ characters are played by Karin Viard, Nominated thirteen times for the Cesar Awards and winner three times, and Francois Damiens. Both were nominated for Cesars and received excellent reviews for their work. For the director, filming the movie was a challenge, but he was not afraid at any time. He has a deaf relative and lives next to a theater that specializes in plays for the deaf. “I was observing the actors and the audience closely and I learned many things, especially that communication is very direct, without filters, they don’t beat around the bush to tell something like I do. I asked the protagonists of my film to concentrate a lot and to learn all the signs by heart, which is why they couldn’t improvise, concentration was essential.l. They both worked hard beforehand, as they spent eight months preparing for an average of four hours a day. It was very hard work for them, especially for Karin Viard, who is very talkative and couldn’t say anything.
The relevant moment that the four members of the Bélier family are discussing
The song of Michel Sardou
The soundtrack has a lot of prominence and includes several songs by Michel Sardou and among them stands out the song I fly (I fly)released in 1978. “The idea came to me from Victoria Bedos, who wrote the script with me, and we chose it because it portrays Paula’s story very well, it’s a carbon copy,” said Lartigau. “Sardou’s songs are wonderful. When I sent the idea to production, they initially laughed in my face before accepting. The song I fly “It has always moved me and represents emancipation well.”
From the countryside to the city
The farm where much of the film takes place, especially at the beginning, is in Housseau-Brétignolles, in Remieu (Mayenne)It is said that one of the members of the production team bought it, in order to work with complete freedom and not be subject to the clauses of a rental contract: there were 60 people, including the technical area and the actors, and owning the house was a great relief for everyone. The contrast of scenery is provided by Paris. From the French capital we see the Bir-Hakeim bridge and the House of Radio and Music.
The Bélier family becomes part of the RTVE Play catalogue, along with new titles such as Front page, Worth, The DukeAstronauts, Tuna and chocolate, Crazy poison, Better… Impossible.
