Cannes stood up for Daniel Brühl, as his new Disney+ show “Becoming Karl Lagerfeld” earned a 3-minute standing ovation on Sunday. Premiering out of competition, it captures the late German designer before morphing into the instantly recognizable figure that took pop culture by storm. And, courted by young Jacques de Bascher (Théodore Pellerin), finally opening up for love.
Local viewers enjoyed the spectacle, laughing at Lagerfeld’s awkwardness or at Yves Saint Laurent’s (Arnaud Valois) clumsy attempts at romancing de Bascher. The verdict? A “fun” and “entertaining” new show, declared Canneseries audience members, happy to share their enthusiasm with Variety even despite the language barrier: “C’est genial!”
The screening, which started with a joyful fashion show similar to Lagerfeld’s collection for Chloé in the 1970s – spotlighted in the first episode – attracted just about every celebrity in town. Including “Beverly Hills, 90210” alumni Jason Priestley and “Riverdale’s” Vanessa Morgan, in Cannes to present “Wild Cards.”
“I don’t care about designers or labels. For me, it’s more about what I feel good in. I will try something on and it doesn’t matter if it’s super cheap or super expensive. There is all this pressure about [how you present yourself] but I never let it affect me,” she admitted to Variety . Danish actress – and juror – Sofie Gråbøl, previously at Canneseries with “Prisoner,” actually came wearing Lagerfeld’s favorite color combination. “I am not a fashion person, but even I knew about the black and white!,” she laughed. “I am looking forward to learning more about him. For an artist, any person can be interesting. And any story – as long as it’s well told.” Gråbøl wasn’t the only one who appreciated the chance to get to know the actual person behind these famous sunglasses and fingerless gloves. “I started out as a model and I am still into fashion. I love it! But the thing about Lagerfeld was also that he was so unique, so creative and he always did what he wanted to do. That’s very inspiring to me,” said “The Zweiflers’” Daniel Hernandez. “I am always interested in the person behind it all, because it allows you to understand the decisions they have been making.” Juror Macarena García, seen in “La Mesías,” gushed over Brühl. “I just love this actor.” “When I watch a story based on actual people, I don’t expect the actors to mimic them. It’s more about capturing the energy and the charisma. I do want to know more about what’s hiding behind ‘the’ Karl Lagerfeld. I don’t know that much about his personality, his life and his inner conflicts.” Thanks to the show, which will launch on Disney+ in June, it’s finally bound to change.
But, before the screening, “Lagerfeld’s” cast talked to Variety about the challenge of portraying an icon. Or rather, multiple icons – starting with “Triangle of Sadness” actor Sunnyi Melles taking on Marlene Dietrich. “Dietrich was 70 years old at the time [when she met Lagerfeld, as depicted in the second episode]. I was so touched to be able to be like her, to express the thoughts she had. It’s such a wonderful script. You always want to do your best as an actor and I wanted to do my best for Marlene,” she admitted. “I actually knew Lagerfeld personally. He used to live in the house of my mother-in-law. He took a picture of me when I was pregnant with my daughter, who is with me tonight.” Jeanne Damas was “afraid” when approaching her role. “Paloma Picasso is still alive! But in the end, I was free to create my own Paloma. The secret was perhaps in trying to use her ‘code,’ her red lipstick and her sense of style, and keep it joyful,” she said, also praising Brühl. “Watching Daniel transform was… crazy. He speaks French with a German accent, but when he was Karl, it was even a different accent!” Alex Lutz, cast as Lagerfeld’s foe Pierre Bergé, added: “The biggest challenge was to forget about the legend. We had to leave it behind, instead of having it dangle in front of us all the time.”
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