The Coen Brothers filmed their remake!

With a true sense of organization and specific, aptly concise instructions, the American filmmakers crossed the Rue du Premier-Film (First-Film Street)…

After a sustained and enthusiastic ovation Friday evening, Ethan and Joel Coen_, recipients of the 18^th Lumière Award, took on the challenge of the Leaving the Lumière Factories remake. With a top-notch cast, striking direction and their trademark biting humor, the duo once again created a little gem! Radu Mihaileanu was the first arrival at the Hangar du Premier-Film, eager to hear the instructions given by the directors. In the Institut Lumière park, photo and autograph hunters were already in the starting blocks. The stars of the day had come to light up the sky of Lyon: the delightful Sabine Azéma chatted with filmmaker Danièle Thompson. Not far behind them were Daniel Auteuil and Lebanese director Nadine Labaki, a guest of honor at this edition. A few meters away, actor Frances McDormand and screenwriter-director Tricia Cook flanked their respective husbands, Joel and Ethan Coen: “the Beatles,” as the former had jokingly referred to them. Before the cameras turned, the 5-star cast took their seats in the cinema to admire three former remakes of the first film in cinema history before they heard that  these versions were shot by Francis Ford Coppola. “No pressure.”

Of course it wasn’t a problem for the Coen brothers from Minnesota, who leapt on the stage to share their idea: “First, we’re going to do a shot of the flipbook [a nod to the Lumière brothers-editor’s note] from Leaving the Lumière Factories, then do a kind of choreography that will lead us to our version,” announced Joel Coen as he showed the flipbook to the actors. A first rehearsal got underway so everyone could get their bearings. Thierry Frémaux exclaimed, “We have the dog and some bikes!”–required for each filming to stay true to the other famous brothers’ original… “When you go outside, keep your distance from each other,” instructed Frémaux, following the Coen brothers’ advice. The Director of the Institut Lumière made sure that “Fran” (Frances McDormand) was leading the first row of the procession. “Action!” In front of the camera, actor-director James Franco was filmed in close-up in the foreground for the flipbook scene. The other actors were moving to each side  of the frame. “Try not to get too close to the camera,” Ethan Coen reminded them. “And… cut!”

When the actors entered the scene, Nadine Labaki and her husband, musician Khaled Mouzanar shared a passionate kiss. Some actors hopped on bikes, others petted dogs, as is de rigueur for the remake. A battle scene–over an umbrella–ensued between two actresses, before another unforgettable kiss was shared between Bérénice Béjo and Michel Hazanavicius. “We practiced a lot,” joked the director of The Artist. Last but not least in the procession was the always charismatic Benoît Magimel. Back in the screening room, the cast of the pros, decided unanimously that take 3 was superior. Enthusiastic applause followed for the double honorees of the Lumière Award. On stage, Ethan Coen told us, “When I saw Joel starting to walk away… I knew it was a wrap!” 

 — Laura Lépine