A few days ago, we had the immense privilege of discovering the restored version of one of the most influential French films of its generation: Les parapluies de Cherbourg, at a private screening on the LVMH premises. For this celebration, the entire Varda family, Catherine Deneuve and the illustrious Michel Legrand shared with us a moment of intimacy, happiness and pure beauty.
If there’s one film that’s emblematic of Jacques Demy’s work, it’s Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, which combines the seriousness of its theme with the lightness of its tone, in a palette of pastels that’s inseparable from the Demy style. This film, which I was discovering for the first time, transported me from start to finish. A love story like none I’ve ever heard, a unique style as it is a film sung, and a polished image. This restoration is a complete success, with perfect image quality.
Interview with Rosalie Varda-Demy, daughter of Jacques Demy, and Paloma Castro, International Director of Public Affairs at LVMH.
A look back at the restoration of this monument to French cinema and this wonderful family story:
LVMH has supported the digitization and restoration of Les Parapluies de Cherbourg.
“LVMH is committed to preserving and bringing to life the creative practices and
know-how inherited from the past, as demonstrated by the vitality of each of its Houses. So
seemed to us essential to enable one of the most beloved films by the general public,
Palme d’Or at Cannes in 1964 and 5 Oscar nominations, not only to be restored,
preserved but also to be better appreciated.”
Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of LVMH – Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton
“Les Parapluies is a film against war, against absence, against everything we hate
and that shatters happiness.” Jacques Demy
A few anecdotes from the shoot.
– The Palme d’Or at the Cannes Festival in 1964 was awarded to Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, and the
film went on to tour the world.
– Rosalie Varda and Hervé Legrand, daughter of Jaques Demy and son of Michel Legrand, play the children in the film’s final chapter.
– Beyond the film, Jacques Demy and Michel Legrand were great friends, and spent hours playing the electric circuit.
– Jacques Demy Jacques had to imagine how long it would take for the actors to move around, and he already had a virtual set and a virtual staging in mind, since the complete score would be recorded before the shoot. Everything was timed and calculated, requiring Michel Legrand to be extremely adaptable and work extremely hard.
– The film met with immediate success. On the other hand, it was difficult to finance, as producers were afraid of this UFO film.
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