In 2002, Jean-Pierre Jeunet's whimsical French romantic fantasy 'Amélie' catapulted Audrey Tautou to stardom. As Sony Pictures Classics re-releases the Oscar-nominated film in theaters on Valentine's Day, a humorous new short film titled 'The Real Story of Amélie Poulain' sheds light on the surprising backstory of the beloved heroine, exploring why Audrey Tautou struggled with the fame brought by the iconic role.
'When you're in front of a blank page, you wonder who will be interested in this work? You have some doubts; it's normal,' says Jeunet. 'And the initial reaction was very bad because it was presented at the Cannes Film Festival.' In fact, the film, which would later become a classic, was initially rejected by the prestigious festival's programming team. 'But it was the best publicity we could have because it became a big scandal in France,' Jeunet recalls. 'Actually, it was good for us!'
'I missed the Oscar statuette because it's a really beautiful statue. I would have liked to have it on my shelf. Probably next time I come to Hollywood Boulevard, I'll get a fake one,' says the acclaimed director.
Jeunet expresses great happiness at the film's worldwide success but notes that the situation was the opposite for Tautou, as she didn't like being recognized.
'After 'Amélie,' she completely broke down,' he says. 'And she told me, 'I'm going to change my profession because I don't like being recognized on the street. I hate seeing people taking unauthorized photos of me.' I said, 'Okay, I'll push you out of this situation.' And she told me, 'Yes, I know I'm lucky.' And I said, 'Yes, you're lucky. Don't complain. Okay? Life is hard for everyone. So, you make an effort, you survive.''
'She can do everything,' he says about her acting. 'She can be funny, cry, laugh. And technically, she's very sensitive. For me, a perfect actress, absolutely perfect.'