Edward Baer. An actor and director certainly, but above all a voice and a language in its own right. Today it is not an article to evoke one of his films but to give back to Otis what belongs to Otis (character played by Edouard Baer in Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra). Edouard Baer is the love of the right word and he proves it at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
This Tuesday, May 8, it was the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival. Who says ceremony says "master of ceremonies". This year it was Edouard Baer who was designated as officiant of the evening. This is not the first time that the artist has been awarded the honor of inaugurating the Croisette of his speech. This was already the case in 2008 and 2009. Far from the classic speeches, Edouard Baer has taken up the elegant verve that characterizes his morning show Plus près de toi on Radio Nova.
Following an excerpt from Jean-Luc Godart's Pierrot le Fou (1965), he begins his speech by questioning Anna Karina and declaims on the beauty of what makes a film. In the shoes of a director, he talks about the first idea, the construction of the story, the emotions that serve as drivers. Then you have to propose this film. It must be financed, it evokes the "wonderful crooks" that are the producers. We have to shoot this film and finally, perhaps, present it in Cannes.
"Jean-Luc Godard, when he makes Pierrot le Fou, does he know what he is doing? Not! He follows inspiration, he follows movement, he traces his path. (…) What about us? What prevents us from getting started? We don't need anyone's permission! We wait for ourselves! We are waiting for his heart! And just to follow the thread of his dreams."
He describes Cannes and its standing, Cannes and its magic. Cannes and its icons, Cannes and its audience. Cannes and the films that we remember, which mark forever as what we forget. Cannes and his love of cinema quite simply. With a few words of Spanish for Javier Bardem, a few sentences of English in the introduction, Edouard Baer shows that he can do everything. He also does not hesitate to gently mock the audience after the presentation of the annual jury:
"The jury is now complete. You are not one of them. You are not on the right side. When did it?"
A simple speech, all classy and relaxed, always with that touch of impertinence and malice that characterizes him: he seems to have done this all his life. Comfortable with words as with his role as master of ceremonies, Edouard Baer opened this 71st Cannes Film Festival with flying colours. To hear a little more of the talent of the actor, here is one of his morning columns.
