Dany Boon, the return. The northern comedian was on conquered ground on Friday to present the preview of his new film 8 rue de l’Humanité, which tells the story of the vicissitudes between neighbors, during confinement. And to launch his tour of France screenings, the director had chosen a small town in Pas-de-Calais: Vitry-en-Artois, 4,700 inhabitants, between Douai and Arras. Why this choice ?
“The film crew wanted to put the spotlight on the real ‘everyday heroes’: these neighbors who, like those in the film, showed solidarity during the confinement,” explains Netflix, which will broadcast the comedy from the 20th October. Because true to his habits, Dany Boon has chosen to treat the theme of confinement from the angle of humor and good feelings.
“As a trader, it has helped us a lot”
The first stage of this promotional tour therefore took place in Vitry-en-Artois, on “Neighbors Day”, to pay tribute to three 20-year-olds. During confinement, Léo Guéant, Franck Giloteaux and Wilfried Lallier helped people in difficulty by regularly taking their lessons.
“One day, we met in a garage and we decided to do this together, with the help of the town hall,” says Franck, a seasonal worker. “As traders, it has helped us a lot,” adds Tony, who runs a chip shop in the town. And then, to do that without asking anything, these days, it is rare. “
At the time, the trio’s initiative was relayed by the local press and, according to the mayor of the town, Pierre Georget, “it was Dany Boon’s mother who sent the article to her son” . This is how Vitry-en-Artois became, for a day, a mini-Cannes festival, with a red carpet in front of the village hall, transformed, for the occasion, into a cinema room.
Walkabout for Dany Boon
“We took advantage of this preview to also invite the people who shared during the confinement,” adds the mayor. Thus, 144 people, including firefighters, teachers and even mask seamstresses, were able to discover the film on Friday evening.
As for Dany Boon, he was able to afford a walkabout before the screening and reserve a surprise for schoolchildren at lunchtime. “Without warning, he visited them in the canteen and imitated them the voice of Olaf, the character he plays in the cartoon Snow Queen », Says a witness.
“I was very intimidated”
For Léo, one of the “heroes of the confinement”, the meeting with the film crew was a godsend. “I am registered at the school The entry of artists in Paris to become an actor,” he tells 20 minutes. So it made me very happy to be able to rub shoulders with them so closely. “
Since the end of July, the three friends have been aware of this visit and have been able to savor this special moment. “We were able to discuss with them. I was very intimidated, ”admits Wilfried, a student.
This “best neighbors” tour, as Netflix calls it, will continue in October. Next previews at La Penne-sur-Huveaune, in Bouches-du-Rhône (5th), Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle, in Pyrénées-Atlantiques (7th), Guingamp, in Côtes d’Armor (the 11th) and Etain, in the Meuse (the 13th).