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Venice 2012: Joker’s life

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Venice Film Festival has been closed with the picture of Jean-Pierre Amery "The Man Who Laughs." Freestyle adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel is stylistically reminiscent of Tim Burton's early films, but without the black humor. The protagonist, Gwynplaine, on whose face is carved eternal smile, easily joins the pantheon of romantic renegades.

Jean-Pierre Amery was 10 years old when he saw a television three-part adaptation of Hugo's novel "The Man Who Laughs," directed by Jean Kershbron. The history of suffering boy with eternal smile will always remain in his memory. After the success of "Romantics Anonymous" director decided to fulfill his dream and take off his own version of the tragic story.

In 1928 came the first film version of the novel - a Hollywood movie with Conrad Feydton as Gwynplaine and happy ending instead of a tragic outcome. It is an image created Feydton influenced the image of the Joker in the Batman stories.

In Hugo's action takes place in England XVII century, but Amery has decided not to become attached to a particular place and time. The film opens with a dramatic night scene: from the landing departs a ship, leaving the boy on the beach, begging not to leave him. Alone, the child seeks asylum, shelter. Along the way he finds a woman, which clung to her chest girl. Gwynplaine realizes that the woman froze to death, and the girl is still alive, and takes with him. He finds refuge with Ursus (Gerard Depardieu), the seller of herbs, living in a poor tent. The girl is blind, Ursus gave her a name Deya.

Gwynplaine had never seen himself in the mirror and doesn’t know what his face looks like. His former guardians severely disfigured boy, having cut his face clown smile. Scar makes it a subject of ridicule village boys, but gradually Ursus and Gwynplaine understand that ugliness amused and attracted the audience that is willing to pay to hear an interesting story about a boy with a devilish grimace. Ursus, Gwynplaine and Deya begin to make performances and make their living.

Deya (Krista Tere) and Gwynplaine (Marc-André Grondin) get older, their relationship transformed. They have not only a sense of kinship. Arriving in the capital, where they are going to give a new performance, change their lives dramatically. Gwynplaine success comes, and with it the attention of influential duchess. When they find that he actually comes from an aristocratic family, the familiar world is crumbling. High society is much more cruel than the world of fair actors and ordinary public.

The novel "The Man Who Laughs" was written by Hugo in 1866-1869, respectively, and at one time has been cool adopted.

Amery did not meticulously reproduce all the story lines of Hugo's novel, focusing on Gwynplaine and his feelings. Marc-Andre Grod, almost always located in the frame, reproduces embarrassed young man, the first discoveries of the glory, cruelty and love. Gwynplaine - an idealist whose ugliness never angered him to the world. He grew a noble man with a beautiful and suffering soul who hides behind an endless smile.

According to Amery, Gwynplaine is much like any teenager, including to himself, "Gwynplaine thinks he's ugly. He can not imagine that can be loved and welcomed. He has both physical and social systems. I have always made films about those who are different physically. This is what I always hurt. So I would like to focus on the story of a teenager. And modern teenagers will see them selves here too".

To makeup Gwynplaine it took three hours each morning. A special mask has been created for several months.

"Mask creates a distance between the actors - said Jean-Pierre Amery of complex makeup. - Marc-Andre initially upset. He put so much emotion into his game, and his face always had that smile. Finally, he realized that he felt exactly what his character. Gwynplaine is suffering inside, but smiling on the outside. "

Amery does not hide that he was inspired by Burton's films and characters. Edward Scissorhands with his naive soul was one of those who influenced Gwynplaine by Amery. "Sleepy Hollow" and "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" also played a role in how bleak and intense theatrical director has made the world of "The Man Who Laughs." The space is filled with fog, fire, velvet, mirrors and reflections, as well as the beautiful music of Czech composer Stephen Much.

Symphonic music sounding in the film, was written under the influence of the works of Ligeti, Shostakovich and Mahler.

Tragic end the director compares to the opera. "It is a bit like the last act in the great operas. All the main characters die. In "La Traviata", she dies. In "La Boheme", she dies. Madame Butterfly dies. I really wanted that was like in the opera"- shared his vision Amery.