Posted at 8:00 am
When you’ve worked as a film journalist for a while and meet Henri Picard for the first time, it’s hard not to transport yourself against his will 30 years back to the time when his father Luc gave his first interviews. The same shy smile, the same way of vibrating from the inside out, the same way of getting straight to the point. With, as a bonus, the natural charisma of those who don’t seem to be playing with that charisma at the moment.
The actor, whose mother, Isabel Richer, is also a great actress, is now, at 21, managing his career with complete autonomy. Gone are the days of his agent emailing audition invitations to this kid of the prom and copying his parents’ addresses.
“Of course you support me,” the young man assured in an interview with La Presse. I also accompanied her on film sets from a young age. I wanted to audition around the age of 10 or 11, but they wanted me to have a normal childhood and go to school. The first audition I was able to do was for Mongol Kings when I was 15. And it worked ! »
Beyond expectations
Although he hardly remembers his presence – at the age of 3 – in L’Audition, the first film signed by his father to direct, Henri confides that his role in Les rois mongols, also directed by Luc Picard, his mind represented an important step. He also combines his desire to practice this profession, which was born at a very young age, with his love for actors.
I started watching making-ofs around the age of 11 and was particularly interested in the actors’ performances. When I met an actor I liked—Leonardo DiCaprio, for example—I started watching all of his films. My tastes have changed since then, but it’s true that my role in Mongol Kings confirmed something. I knew then what I wanted to do in life.
Henry Picard
“Today I always tell myself that everything can end tomorrow and I seize every moment. At the same time, I don’t rush anything and try to make good decisions. But what is happening to me now exceeds my expectations. »
PHOTO PROVIDED BY IMMINA FILMS
Henri Picard in a scene from The Diver.
Starring in numerous drama series over the past three years (Jenny, Tout la vie, Chaos, Cerebrum and STAT to name a few), Henri Picard is now headlining a feature film for the first time, and not least . The Diver is in fact the film adaptation of Stéphane Larue’s famous autobiographical novel. Directed by co-writer Francis Leclerc (Barefoot in Dawn, The Time Harvester), who co-wrote the film with Éric K. Boulianne (Liar, Viking), this long-awaited feature film tells the story of a 19-year-old young man a huge admirer of heavy metal who tries to bring some order into his life of pathological gambling in the early 2000s by taking a job washing dishes at a trendy restaurant.
character key
Francis Leclerc, particularly impressed by his portrayal of Henri Picard in Mafia Inc. (Daniel Grou-Podz), in which he played the role of the younger Marc-André Grondin, had first met the actor at the audition several years earlier, but he was too young for the role at the time. With the project being delayed, Henri was able to try his luck again in 2021.
“When Henri came back, he was the right age and he completely convinced,” explains Francis Leclerc. He had prepared every line for a scene in which the character, while learning to dive, lies perpetually with a big smile, demented demeanor, and unwavering confidence. Henri understood that when he came up with this attitude, the viewer could identify his lies because the character in the voiceover was claiming the exact opposite of what he was saying. That’s the key to this character, and Henri immediately found it himself. »
PHOTO PROVIDED BY IMMINA FILMS
In order for his character to have the right gestures, Henri Picard trained in a restaurant kitchen.
For the actor, reading the novel was the most important step in a preparation that also required an internship in a restaurant kitchen. He also got in the mood by listening to metal. Lots of metal. In this regard, the film’s musical score, very rich and made up of pieces signed by the biggest names in the industry, occupies a very important place in the story.
Because the novel was written in “I” I was able to really empathize with the character. I could access his inwardness, his mood. In a scenario, we usually describe what’s happening on screen, but not really the emotions.
Henry Picard
“I also listened to metal – almost just that – while running outside in the cold like the character does. I had already been diving for a summer but got back into it to find the gestures. It’s a very special environment. People are yelling at each other in the kitchen but customers don’t know it even if it’s happening right next door! »
references
In particular, Francis Leclerc suggested that the actor watch or review some flagship feature films from the 1970s and 1980s, mostly American but also CRAZY, by Jean-Marc Vallée.
“He really took the time to explain to me what he wanted to do, with lots of cinematic references,” adds the winner of the Best Supporting Actor category for his performance at the 2019 Québec Cinéma Gala. who don’t read me (Yan Giroux). “Francis recommended me about twenty films where the lighting and surroundings are a bit trashy. I saw Serpico [Sidney Lumet], Meanstreets and Goodfellas by Scorsese. And also Donnie Darko [Richard Kelly]. This movie really helped me because the story revolves around a 20-year-old guy who’s a bit lost and has his head in the clouds. CRAZY is also the story of a peer. »
PHOTO PROVIDED BY IMMINA FILMS
Madani Tall and Henri Picard in The Diver.
Though his career is still young, Henri Picard believes his role in The Diver will likely remain in his heart for a long time to come.
“I found correspondence between Stéphane and myself. He’s shy and so am I. He has an instinctive inwardness that is similar to mine. Even though he resorts to lies, we feel like this sickly character still has good intentions and courage. That’s what strikes me most about him. »
The diver will open the 41st Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma on February 22nd. It will be shown throughout Quebec on February 24th.