“I changed my skin”: why Bertrand Blier permanently distanced himself from Gérard Depardieu

This Monday, January 20, director Bertrand Blier died at the age of 85. In 2010, our colleagues at Paris Match interviewed him. The filmmaker had notably mentioned his relationship with Gérard Depardieu.

© Bestimage Bertrand Blier and Gérard Depardieu

IN BRIEF

• Bertrand Blier, director of “Les Valseuses” and “Tenue de soirée”, died in Paris on January 20, 2025 at 85 years old.
• In 2010, he chose Jean Dujardin for “Le bruit des glaçons” after having distanced himself from Gérard Depardieu.
• Bertrand Blier then explained that between Gérard Depardieu and him, the “trajectories have diverged”.

The director of “Tenue de soirée” or “Les Valseuses“, died “peacefully at his home in Paris, surrounded by his wife and children“, this January 20, 2025, at the age of 85.

In 2010, à the occasion of the release of the release of his film “The sound of ice cubes“, Bertrand Blier had confided in him in the columns of Paris Match. He émentioned the choice of Jean Dujardin for the main role of the film, after having first thought of Gérard Depardieu.

Bertrand Blier: why he distanced himself from Gérard Depardieu

The world of French cinema is in mourning again. This Monday, January 20, 2025, Bertrand Blier, director of Valseuses and Tenue de soirée, passed away at age 85 years old. In 2010, one of his last films was released, “Le sound of ice cubes“, with Jean Dujardin. For On the occasion, Paris Match had met the filmmaker. Our colleagues then questioned him. on his choice of the Oscar-winning French actor for the lead role.

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“At first, it was for Depardieu. When I write a film, it's always for him. Now a little less because I changed my skin. But for a very long time, he was my alter ego” he confessed. The filmmaker, who has worked with Gérard Depardieu on many films, then explained his estrangement from the actor. “Our paths have diverged a little. He rather likes agricultural stuff, vines. Not me. For ‘Les Glaçons…’, I told myself that, as long as ’ do, I was going to take the best and the most bankable: Jean Dujardin, the only male star in France” he then added.

When Bertrand Blier émentioned his difficulties in obtaining funding for “Le bruit des glaçons”

Our colleagues at Paris Match then asked é à Bertrand Blier why he waited six years, after “How much do you love me“, to make the film “The sound of ice cream“. The director then admitted to having “going through a bad patch, as happens to all directors“. “You know, we, the ­filmmakers, we are like traders! If I had had the courage to leave the ­cinema, I could have written three or four ­theater plays. Well, I have one that is playing at the start of the school year, it's not so bad” he declared in 2010. “As for my film 'Le bruit ice cubes', we can say that it was hard to finance. It must be admitted that the subject is a little worrying…” the late filmmaker had added.

Bertrand Blier had then explained why he had had trouble finding producers. “After a commercial failure and all the friends who change sidewalks when they meet you… Blier is cooked! And I told myself that it was maybe true” he had lamented.