As I delve into the captivating lives of these remarkable actresses, Yacoub and Exarchopoulos, I am struck by their resilience and versatility, much like the characters they portray. Their ability to transcend borders, both geographical and linguistic, is truly inspiring.
French cinema seldom explores the full spectrum of science fiction, an area typically controlled by big-budget American productions; however, emerging director Aude Lea Rapin (“Heroes Don’t Die”), has bravely taken on this challenge with “Planet B,” a dystopian action-thriller. This film features Adele Exarchopoulos (“Beating Hearts,” “Inside Out 2”) and Souheila Yacoub (“Dune 2”) portraying rebel characters, making their debut at the Venice Film Festival, where the movie will launch the Critics’ Week segment.
Similar to numerous science fiction films, “Planet B” features a narrative with strong political undertones, focusing on passionate climate advocates who find themselves imprisoned within a seemingly utopian setting. The film delves into several controversial issues such as immigration, excessive use of force by law enforcement, the boundaries of extreme activism, and potential dangers to our democratic system.
In the main cast alongside Yacoub and Exarchopoulos, you’ll find a group of new talents and rising stars such as India Hair, Jonathan Couzinié, Yassine Stein, Paul Beaurepaire, and Eliane Umuhire.
In this movie, Adèle Exarchopoulos portrays Julia, a headstrong eco-activist who is detained and subjected to psychological torment, while Zahra Youssoufane plays an undercover Iraqi journalist residing illegally in France. Their paths cross when Yacoub’s character discovers a digital gadget that enables her to enter the virtual prison where Julia and other eco-activists are confined. Composed by Bertrand Bonello, this film was produced by Eva Robin at Les Films du Bal and jointly produced by Orange Studio. Studiocanal is responsible for distributing it globally. This movie serves as Rapin’s sequel to “Heroes Don’t Die,” which premiered at Critics’ Week in Cannes in 2019.
Actress Adèle Exarchopoulos expresses that while she doesn’t always have to align with the moral values of her characters, it’s pleasant when there’s a sense of shared humanity between them and herself. Notably, she was drawn to Rapin’s approach in telling this tale using minimal resources and referencing real-life events like the unrest in Notre-Dame-des-Landes over an airport project and the Yellow Jacket movement. Exarchopoulos explains that Rapin aimed to specifically comment on the current situation through the portrayal of a virtual prison designed to suppress dissenting voices.
She expresses that the movie delves into several topics that resonate with her, notably the bravery of dedication and self-sacrifice. What she finds particularly intriguing is the exploration of what societal and collective reactions ensue when there’s no political response. These topics are quite relevant in our contemporary world, yet they are addressed through science fiction and genre.
Yacoub, who has recently been seen in “Dune 2” and Noemie Merlant’s “The Balconettes,” stated that while she doesn’t select roles based on political themes, she found the concept of “Planet B” to be both beautiful and powerful. This is because it blended science fiction with the reality we face today. She also brought attention to the youth-led demonstrations happening in France, whether they were protesting immigration policies, police violence, or the surge of far-right movements.
Previously, Exarchopoulos has ventured into various genres. Last year, she featured in the award-winning “The Animal Kingdom,” another film set in a dystopian future where a genetic disorder turns people into beasts. However, according to her, “Planet B” stands out because it was produced with significantly fewer resources.
The movie, honoring climate activists like Greta Thunberg and Camille Etienne, delves into urgent matters. As Exarchopoulos puts it, “Cinema is designed to spark curiosity, not always provide solutions. ‘Planet B’ explores what actions we’re prepared to take when confronted with the destruction of our planet, whether that’s politically or climatically.” She admits she doesn’t have the same courage and dedication as her character, but embodying such a role is thrilling for her.
From a storytelling perspective, “Planet B” delves deep into the territory of science fiction, a challenge that may have initially seemed formidable given the limited resources and reputation of its creator, Rapin, who is not well-versed in this particular genre.
When Exarchopoulos chose to tackle the project, she described it as “being akin to taking a leap of faith, like bungee jumping.” She continued by explaining, “I thought, ‘It’s all or nothing.’ At the same time, I was so captivated by the subject that I felt compelled to be part of it.” She further added that it shared some similarities with her feelings when she worked on “Zero Fuck Given,” for which she received a Cesar nomination for best actress. “Regardless of the outcome,” she said, “I wanted to be present.”
Yacoub expressed that the script was hard to put away, “I read it quickly and with difficulty tearing myself away from it. This is unusual for me as I’m a slow reader and easily distracted, but not this time. It captivated my attention and left me wondering: ‘What is this extraordinary, daring, and somewhat peculiar piece?'” She added that she wasn’t fully certain of its meaning, yet she felt an appealing energy. After meeting Rapin, Yacoub mentioned it was instantly clear to her that she needed to turn the story into a film. “She’s a director who has previously made documentaries and is eager to bring a personal issue to life on screen, while making it engaging,” Yacoub explained.
On “Planet B,” Yacoub portrays a character modeled after Nour, a friend of Rapin’s, who assisted him in perfecting an Iraqi accent when speaking both Arabic and English. It was deeply moving to have Nour on set and witness her bravery. I desired for her courage to be mirrored in my character, Yacoub remarks.
As a cinephile playing an unusual role, I found it fascinating to embody a character who didn’t utter a single word of French. Being neither Iraqi nor a journalist, portraying this foreign character in English was a captivating challenge for me. Despite needing to approximate the Iraqi accent, which isn’t naturally mine due to my fluency in the language, I embraced the opportunity wholeheartedly.
Yacoub expresses that he found both his character and Exarchopoulos’ portrayal relatable because they made mistakes, stating, “I didn’t want her to be a one-dimensional warrior. Instead, I aimed to make her human, with flaws and imperfections. There are many heroes who appear too perfect, too kind, or seem to grasp things too easily. I find their imperfections beautiful. Sadly, this aspect is often missing in films, particularly in female roles. We all have our flaws and make mistakes. It’s these human qualities that I find moving in these characters.”
Yacoub and Exarchopoulos both possess a wealth of experience in significant Hollywood projects. Notably, Exarchopoulos provided the voice for the character Ennui in “Inside Out 2.” Before being cast in “Inside Out 2,” she had already worked on the French dub of “Elementals.” Upon receiving the offer for “Inside Out 2,” she quips, “It seems they associated boredom with France since they asked me to maintain my French accent!”
According to Exarchopoulos, she was shooting “L’Amour Ouf” in the South of France when she encountered a particularly challenging scene that went on all night before her journey to Paris for a meeting. Upon arriving in Paris, she felt exhausted (having slept only two hours) and thought she might mess up the meeting. However, she found herself perfectly prepared for the role of Ennui. Exarchopoulos explains that the director of “Inside Out 2”, Kelsey Mann, displayed photographs of his birthdays to demonstrate the changes during adolescence and how one can become increasingly grumpy. In the end, she enjoyed her time working with Mann and the Pixar team, as they kept their promise of making it enjoyable!
Yacoub shares that working on “Dune 2” has broadened opportunities for her beyond France. Prior to this, she had projects lined up and was recognized within the French film industry, but hadn’t garnered much international fame. Now, she’s receiving significantly more scripts than last year and is spending more time working in the U.S., with aspirations to work in other countries as well. Born in Switzerland, Yacoub is fluent in several languages such as Flemish, German, and English, which came in handy when she was part of the national gymnastics team. She also learned Kurdish to portray a Kurdish warrior in season 2 of “No Man’s Land,” the suspenseful series that aired on Arte.
She’s now starring opposite Nicolas Cage and FKA Twigs in “The Carpenter’s Son” in Greece.
She expresses that this upcoming project is quite unconventional, it’s a chilling film depicting Jesus’ youth, she mentions. Following their collaboration on “Dune 2”, Yacoub eagerly anticipates another chance to collaborate with Denis Villeneuve. They have maintained contact since then, and they’ve both expressed a desire to work together again in the future.
Simultaneously, Exarchopoulos is filming “Chien 51,” a gripping dystopian thriller helmed by Cedric Jimenez (“November,” “The Stronghold”), which is an adaptation of Laurent Gaudé’s acclaimed novel. This story unfolds in a not-so-distant future where artificial intelligence has attained overwhelming power.
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2024-08-29 16:47