Matthieu Tribes par Allain Clement
Preceded by a beautiful teaser with music by Muse, and featuring a five-star cast, Cas [ID] {pronounce caïd}, the first short film by young Matthieu Tribes, was previewed on Wednesday February 18, 2009 at the Elysées Biarritz Paris 8ème. This short film deals with a slice of life of a kingpin getting out of prison after twenty years. The director then takes us into the meanders of his mind where the real and the imaginary merge.
Matthieu Tribes, a young French actor, made his debut in a youth show in 1987. Then, he quickly moved on to popular films and TV series such as « Lea Parker ». Recently, he became the face of Diesel’s Fuel for Life fragrance.
This preview was a success both because of the number of guests (which required three successive screenings) and because of the enthusiastic feedback from the public on this genre cinema, which is not very present in current French cinema.
Demonstration of the young director’s know-how, this short film is also a beautiful gift from a man who follows in his father’s footsteps and allows Jean-Louis Tribes to show us the full extent of his acting skills.
Matthieu Tribes has thus offered his father an intense role and has even offered himself the luxury of being the counterpart of his young father, thus referring to Jean-Louis Tribes’ own short film in which he already played this role.
Constrained by the format of his production, Matthieu Tribes was able to make the type of production he likes. He made this short film a real showcase of his technique and his talent in the making in a genre that is not very popular in France.
Mastering slow motion, dolly shots, photography with a certain efficiency in the musical choices, the director delivers an intense work that offers unexpected scores to Mylène Jampanoï and Samy Nacéri and introduces us to Gianni Giardellini, an actor to watch.
On the occasion of the party organized by Alcaline-Productions, Matthieu Tribes agreed to answer some questions with Benjamin Maurice, one of the producers of the film. Two friends who enjoy talking about their wonderful adventure.
Tell me about the genesis of the film.
M.T.: It took me four years to make Cas [ID]. I went to approach several organizations such as the CNC, I went to ask for regional aid. Each time the same answer: the script was not suitable, it did not correspond to the type of French cinema he was financing.
I then tried to set up a group on Facebook – Help me finance my film – where a symbolic 1 € per person was requested. But we could only raise 700 €, not enough to set up the project.
And then I met Benjamin Maurice. We became friends. He put the money on the table and that’s how we were able to have this beautiful cast and very good technicians.
We feel some cinematographic influences in the realization. What are they?
B.M. Matthieu is clearly influenced by Korean cinema and in particular by Park Chan-Wook, the director of « Old Boy ». We can also find some influences of Quentin Tarantino in the indulgence of violence. But it is a fantasized violence, we can’t believe it. Matthieu did a lot of detail work on each scene.
One sequence stood out for me: the one in black and white of the woman smoking a cigarette. It reminded me of the poster of the movie « The Black Dahlia ». It’s also a very well done part where you play the role of your young father.
M.T.: But first of all it’s a tribute to the movie « Sin City » and its director Robert Rodriguez.
Oh yes, indeed. And how did the shooting go?
M.T : The direction of the actors was greatly facilitated by the very family atmosphere and the proximity with my father. There was a real symbiosis between the whole team. The shooting was perfect, we had no delays to complain about. There was a real energy from everyone. And we were lucky enough to have a real team of very good professionals for a self-produced film from A to Z.
One feels a lot of filial love in this realization.
As for Mylène Jampanoï, I didn’t expect to see her fighting in this way but it does, like a new way maybe. You paid attention to the choreography of the fight scenes. Let’s go back to your background.
M.T: I have done fifteen years of conservatory and I play the drums. I did the last two songs of the soundtrack of the movie.
I started out mainly in TV series [Lea Parker..]. It worked out pretty well so I kept going because it allowed me to live. But I couldn’t escape the TV series label, which is a bit of a handicap in the business when it comes to film.
What’s it like to manage your own father?
M.T.: It’s very easy in itself, he’s an excellent comedian. He has twenty years of experience. And then when you direct your father, there are things that come naturally with a simple look.
But we feel that in general, you love your actors. It’s nice to see a director who loves his actors, it always comes across in the work. Moreover, you have directed Samy Naceri, who is known to be difficult.
M.T.: Yes, I would like to set the record straight because not enough positive things are said about him.
It was a good thing for me to direct it and a very good experience. He is really a beautiful person and he is very pleasant, punctual, funny.
So now what are you going to do with directing, acting?
M.T.: I’m going to continue to work hard at directing.
But I also have a new agent, David Vatinet, for the castings. And since then, I have been able to choose the castings that I like.
I plan to make my first feature film which is currently being written.
This short film, beyond the script, is basically a calling card for me.
To finish, I invite people to go to http://www.cas-id.com/index1.htm to see the teaser and the making-of of the film, allowing us to find a little bit the family atmosphere of the shooting.
This short film was awarded the jury prize at the festival « Les Hérault du cinéma » in June 2009 in Cap d’Agde, although it was presented out of competition.
Matthieu Tribes par VK
A great director in the making confided in us.
Marie-Odile Radom