Gainsbourg’s shadow: An animated dive into the life of a French icon
The legend of Serge Gainsbourg
Serge Gainsbourg, the enigmatic French pop artist known for his provocative antics and captivating presence, is the focus of an anticipated animated documentary by Logical Pictures and The Jokers Lab. The film, titled Gainsbourg: Rue de Verneuil, draws from a rich audio archive and will take the spotlight at this year’s MIA Market in Rome.
Revisiting a turbulent life through animation
Based on an intimate 1989 interview with the French cultural magazine Les Inrockuptibles, just two years before Gainsbourg’s death, the film delves into the life of a musician synonymous with scandal, passionate love affairs, and abrasive relationships. Gainsbourg, who passed away in 1991 at the age of 62, remains an indelible figure in French culture.
Crafting a narrative from raw conversations
The documentary team
Gilles Cayatte and Daniela de Felice penned the screenplay, with Cayatte also directing and Cyril Houplain taking the role of artistic director. Producers Frédéric Fiore and Carole Mirabello are backing this ambitious project.
The origin of the project
The idea for this feature film began as early as the late 2000s when Mirabello met Christian Fevret, the French journalist who conducted the 1989 interview with Gainsbourg. By 2016, Fevret handed over the complete set of audio tapes, sparking conversations about turning this raw material into a film.
From archival footage to animation
Initially, Mirabello considered a traditional documentary but felt conventional archival footage wouldn’t do justice to the deeply personal and raw nature of the tapes. The breakthrough came in 2023, realizing animation could better capture the unique encounter between a young journalist and an iconic artist. The creative team, led by Cayatte and co-writer de Felice, began the meticulous process of translating this vision into reality.
Houplain’s contribution, with his unique ballpoint pen style, has been instrumental in providing the film with a distinctive visual identity that echoes the spirit of Gainsbourg’s complex persona.
A life marked by contradiction
Cayatte’s personal touch
Cayatte brings more than three decades of experience in the TV industry to the project. He only discovered Gainsbourg in the last decade of the artist’s career but found himself deeply moved by his music and poetry. Cayatte’s perspective as someone who saw Gainsbourg perform live adds a layer of authenticity to the narrative.
The tragic coda
This period marked the unraveling of Gainsbourg’s public life. Cayatte recalls seeing the artist perform, describing him as a “fascinating figure” who could captivate an audience despite his physical and emotional decline.
Fevret’s interview tapes provided over 11 hours of material, including many personal reflections that had never been published. These tapes offer a glimpse into Gainsbourg’s thoughts on life, relationships, and his own turbulent existence.
Unveiling the tormented artist
Insights from de Felice
Co-writer Daniela de Felice found a particular interest in Gainsbourg’s “tortured relationships with women” and his struggle against personal demons. She describes the interview as a confessional, capturing the artist’s quest for redemption.
Houplain’s visual interpretation
Artistic director Houplain faced the challenge of visually interpreting the different periods of Gainsbourg’s life. His ballpoint pen style captures the essence of the artist’s spirit and the emotional depth of the interview.
The film’s debut at MIA Market
During the MIA Market, the filmmakers will seek a broadcaster and an animation studio to bring Houplain’s vision to the screen. Despite the film’s unflinching look at Gainsbourg’s life, Cayatte insists the objective is not to put him on trial but to ask broader questions about the nature of genius and forgiveness.
De Felice adds that the film is “a story of deliverance,” reflecting Gainsbourg’s own search for light and redemption.
The MIA Market takes place from Oct. 14 – 18 in Rome. Stay engaged with our updates to follow the progress of this compelling project.