Jean Dujardin had just finished reading the novel On the dark paths when he was asked by director Denis Imbert to defend the lead role in the film adaptation of the book. As much as the actor was fascinated by the autobiographical story of travel writer Sylvain Tesson, he wasn’t sold on the idea of bringing this story to the big screen…
“I was wondering what we would say in the film,” confides Jean Dujardin in a recent phone interview given to the Journal.
“It’s good to set off to discover the beautiful landscapes of France. But what Sylvain Tesson tells in his book are the dark paths, the paths of salvation and repair. I didn’t really see how this type of book could be adapted. But when I read Denis Imbert and Diasteme’s script, I saw that the narrative line was drawn quite well. I said to myself: Let’s go, nine weeks in nature, then we’ll like our story by filming it. »
Sylvain Tesson, a renowned explorer and writer, drew inspiration from his own story to write his 2016 bestseller Sur les chemins noirs. The author (played by Jean Dujardin in the film) recounts how he undertook to cross France on foot along 1300km of unmarked trails shortly after being the victim of an accidental fall from multiple floors that left him in a deep coma.
In order to represent as faithfully as possible the nature described by Sylvain Tesson in his book, Denis Imbert insisted on shooting his film along the paths of the travel writer, in isolated and little-known regions of France such as the Mercantour and Cantal. Although the feature film was a screenplay, Imbert and Jean Dujardin incorporated the unforeseen events of nature into the film as much as possible.
“We didn’t theorize much,” explains actor Brice de Nice, a 2012 Oscar winner for his role in The Artist.
“We wanted to film very simple things that we don’t often film in cinemas. You only see me running, chopping wood, making a fire… I wanted the film to feel the cold water, the heat, the sweat, the breath and the sound of the stones. At times it felt like we were making a documentary. »
Must flee
Inevitably, Jean Dujardin had to walk a lot for the filming of the film. However, this challenge was not a requirement for him. On the contrary, the actor has been a fan of hiking since he was a boy scout.
“I’ve been running since I was 12 and I’ve always hoped for a movie I could run in,” he says. When I read the script for adapting the novel, I said to myself, “It’s great, it’s all in there. There’s redemption, there’s the journey…” There were many things that touched me. I think we all have this need and fantasy of escape within us. »
Another similarity with the hero of the film: Jean Dujardin likes to take his time in life. Between each project, the 51-year-old actor makes sure to take the time to read the right script and prepare it well.
“That’s the perk of notoriety,” he insists, before adding that he doesn’t particularly like the word “celebrity.”
“I always take my time between films because otherwise I can’t do it. And then I like the balance it gives me between my artistic life and my life as a man. I don’t know how much time I’m given in my life. I want to be able to live as long as possible, but since I don’t know my future, I want to be able to choose my moments wisely. I don’t want to wake up in vain and I don’t want to wake up stressed. And as far as awareness goes, I’m pretty spoiled. I don’t have to look for anything else other than to live and feel good. »
►On the dark paths hits theaters on June 30th.