

Jeanne Moreau was the honored guest Thursday, April 2. She arrived a bit late and explained that she had met Pierre Cardin backstage and paid homage to the finesse of his clothing designs that she wore on more than one occasion in the films she made.
On making films
You must pay attention to the financial state of the world when
in cinema.
On Jean Gabin
I began my career in the 50's and there I was opposite Gabin. Growing
up, I was not allowed to go to the cinema. And there I was in the midst
of the glamour of cinema. It was in Grisbi that I met Gabin for the first
time. He called me the "môme" (the kid). He was cool and the boss
on the set.
On Jules and Jim and sexual liberation
I wouldn't call it sexual liberation. I would call it the liberty
to love (libération amoureuse).
If I was a heroine at the time, I was not aware of it. I didn't
plan my future. I just had a certain openness of spirit that allowed me
to take roles that others didn't want. I was greatly marked by the Nouvelle
Vague in France and in Italy. I even took a role that was offered by a
director who had only shot fish (Louis Malle).
On favorite film
My favorite film is always the one I'm going to make. Each film
is an intimate part of my life.
On Orson Welles
I met Welles at the Comédie Française and appeared
in four of his films: Othello, The Trial, Chimes at Midnight, and The Immortal
Story. There was one more called The Deep that was shot in Yugoslavia but
the film disappeared.
He was the force of nature combined with extreme fragility. Force
and vulnerability. He did everything possible to not arrive at the end
of a film because he was always afraid it would not turn out to be all
that he had expected.
On performing
Cinema is a collective work. Concentration is exerted at each minute
and as the Americans say Time is Money. When you hear action, you yourself
are spurred into action.
Orson once said, 'One cannot lie in front of a camera. It reveals
everything.'
On her career as an actress
It's an advantage. I was able to do what I aspired to do, to become.
I don't have a lot of money, but I'm happy to have followed my desires.
Films were an opening to the rest of the world for me, from physics to
science.
On the organization Equinoxe
Equinoxe was started by Noelle DesChamps. There is a spring and
a fall equinox. They are the symbol of harmony. Our objective is to review
1000 scripts each year and to choose 10. Then, we help them find financial
backing. We help them to find the harmonious form for their films. We supported
one of the films showing at this festival, Serial Lover.
On Japan
Japan fascinates me. The first time I went was with Truffaut, thirty
years ago. I hope to make a film there soon with a Japanese director.
Difference between director and actor
The actor is doing their work. They have no decisions to make. A
director is also doing his work but has all the decisions to make.
Words of advice
Take note of your own originality. Get the most you can from yourself.
Pay attention.