Saagar Kote
Directed by Lisa-Nina Rives, Netflix’s French romantic drama film ‘French Lover’ revolves around the lives of a popular actor named Abel Camara and Marion, a down-on-her-luck waitress and aspiring chef. When the jaded film star crosses paths with the waitress, he finds himself facing complex emotions of love. Marion, who doesn’t seem to care about Abel’s popularity, also feels drawn to him. As the two protagonists build an unlikely bond, they are threatened by the differences between the worlds they come from.
Abel tries to get a part in a new film directed by a respected filmmaker, while Marion tries to open a new food truck to pursue her dreams. Challenged by past feelings, differing careers, and the eyes of the paparazzi, the two main characters must learn how to navigate their relationship through the hurdles and find the meaning of true love. The narrative delves into themes of love, loyalty, and social values poignantly.
French Lover Explores Cinema and Fame Through Abel’s Experiences
Written by director Lisa-Nina Rives along with Hugo Gélin and Shirli Mushoyef, ‘French Lover’ deals with the world of cinema and fame as seen from Abel’s perspective. Being a movie star comes with its own set of challenges for the protagonist, who struggles to find a balance between the professional and personal spheres of his life. It also explores how love and fame can sometimes bring trouble when they intertwine. On the lines of ‘Notting Hill’ directed by Roger Michell, the film deals with an unlikely love story between a celebrity and a commoner, but interestingly, the gender roles are reversed. The problems of fame faced by Julia Roberts’ character in the rom-com classic are mirrored by the challenges encountered by Omar Sy’s portrayal of Abel in the film.
In reality, falling in love with a commoner when one is famous can be a daunting task, especially due to the watchful eyes of the paparazzi. In an interview with Variety, Omar opined that it was challenging to portray the movie industry in the film. Talking about the movie’s approach, he stated, “Since we were making a film about the industry and we’re in a somewhat closed environment, it was a bit difficult to determine the level of criticism and self-mockery, so we thought about that a lot.” The happenings in Abel’s personal life are in many ways influenced by public opinion, which is a dangerous real-world phenomenon. Celebrities often find themselves in vulnerable positions when they are obsessively tracked by people whom they don’t know personally.
The eye of the media also makes it difficult for Abel to be himself with Marion truly. He even resorts to hiding and disguising himself while stepping out with his lover. This also has a negative and emotionally jarring effect on Marion, who gets involved in the world of fame through association alone. The interplay between love and fame brings the narrative closer to reality. Omar also acknowledged the ‘Notting Hill’ inspiration when he said, “You could say that the closest thing to ‘French Lover’ is a reversed ‘Notting Hill.’ So my character is like Julia Roberts!” In conclusion, it can be said that the film is a modern take on the themes of the classic film, set in the era of social media, where privacy has become an even more difficult thing to achieve, especially for celebrities.
An Israeli Series Reportedly Inspired the French Film on Some Level
Though the film is mostly an original creation, there are reports that suggest that it takes vague inspiration from the Israeli drama series called ‘Very Important Person’ or ‘Ish Hashuv Meod,’ created by Shirli Mushoyef. The Israeli series deals with the life of a popular actor named Yehuda Levy, who experiences panic attacks and eating disorders due to a difficult breakup. In the process of grief, he forms a connection with another girl.
The premise of the Israeli show suggests that it is mostly different from the French film, despite a few basic similarities in terms of both narratives dealing with the love life of a celebrity. Though the film is mostly an original story, the format of a celebrity and his love story comes from the Shirli Mushoyef creation. Ultimately, it can be stated that the experiences of Yehuda in the Israeli show and Abel in the French film are connected on a spiritual level.
Read More: Where Was Netflix’s French Lover Filmed?
