Les Parisiens (first part of the Le Genre humain trilogy) is a film directed by Claude Lelouch, released 15 September 2004.
Contents
Synopsis
A string of characters, often marginal, form part of what one might call the "love Richter Scale" and intersect, forming Prévert inventory. Among them, two singers, Shaa and Massimo fall in love, and share their story.
Starring
Maïwenn : Shaa
Mathilde Seigner : Clémentine / Anne
Arielle Dombasle : Sabine Duchemin
Xavier Deluc : Pierre
Agnès Soral : Pierre's wife
Michèle Bernier : Tania
Ticky Holgado : God
Lise Lamétrie : Lise
Francis Perrin : Didier
Grégori Derangère : The hustler
Evelyne Buyle : The woman of the train
Antoine Duléry : The bartender
André Falcon : The jewelry director
Mireille Perrier : The woman on the docks
Charles Gérard : Jewelry client
Frédéric Bouraly
About
Claude Lelouch financed the production of this film himself, through his company, Les Films 13, to the tune of €10M. He acknowledged that it was a major risk, and may have led to his personal ruin.
On its release date, the film only sold 4,162 tickets, representing a major disappointment. Upset by this, Claude Lelouch offered free tickets to people around Paris on 17 September 2004 up to 19:00. However, by the end of the week, les Parisiens still only had 130,649 viewers.
The film is dedicated to Ticky Holgado, who died in January 2004.