..the director and the French actress

French actress lauds Mendoza, Pinoy artists

abs-cbnNEWS.com

 02/07/2011 7

MANILA, Philippines – French actress Isabelle Anne Madeleine Huppert was all praises for award-winning Filipino director Brillante Mendoza.

Huppert was cast in Mendoza’s newest film, “Prey,” an international production.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Huppert, who was known for her performance in the 1996 film La Cérémonie, said it was a nice experience working with Mendoza, who she described as an extraordinary director.

"It was not just working with the Filipinos directly. It was working with Brillante Mendoza who is very special. He is an extraordinary director and I had an extraordinary experience. Maybe, one of the most outstanding in my life as an actress," Huppert said.

The French actress also said she had a blast working with Filipino artists.

"Yes I enjoyed the whole thing you know. The movie was very special and where we shot was very special too because we shot in very, sometimes, remote places and in the forest and in the sea. Very physical shoot as well as a very emotional one," she said.

Huppert said she would leave the Philippines with a heavy heart because of the good experiences she had while working here. She hoped though that she will be able to attend the film's premiere.

"Well I hope to come back as soon as possible. It was too short, I feel so sad to leave. ... I hope I can come back for the premiere of the film," Huppert said.

Filipino actress Maria Isabel Lopez, who is also part of the film, said Huppert left Manila on Sunday.
“She went straight home to Paris,” Lopez said.

In an almost month-long shoot, though, the 2 stars built quite a lasting friendship. “She’s giving me a party in, would you believe, Paris?”

According to the Filipina beauty queen, Huppert was so unaffected when she was acting with Filipino stars, some of them veteran thespian Rustica Carpio and young actress Chanel Latorre.

“Pare-pareho kaming mga hostage ng Abu Sayyaf. Sila ni Rustica, mga missionaries. Ako, tourist. Ang madalas katabi ni Isabelle sa eksena si Rustica. But we were in the same boat,” Lopez recalled.

“We were always in huddle in between takes. Nagkukuwento sa akin si Isabelle, sabi niya, she’s unmarried but she’s got three kids,” she remembered.

“Makuwento siya. At saka, kalog. Like, no’ng nag-party kami sa set, she even danced ‘Spaghetti Pababa,’ you know. I’ll send you photos of her while dancing. Nakakatuwa siya. Para siyang hindi international celebrity,” said Maribel.

Before the cameras grinded for “Prey,” Maribel knew who Huppert was.

“Kilala ko na siya as an awarded French actress and she is very respected in the world,” she said.
“When we went to Cannes for ‘Kinatay,’ she was the chair of the jury but I didn’t see her. We didn’t have the luxury of meeting the judges personally. It was a closed door activity,” she explained.

“Although I don’t idolize Isabelle Huppert because I don’t idolize celebrities, I look up to her. She’s a nice person and a professional artist,” she quipped.

Lopez was also impressed by the “Prey” production.

“Grabe. Talagang international standard. Ngayon lang ako nakagawa ng pelikula na ganito ka-professional lahat. At everything was offered to us. They really spent very well for the production.

“May helicopter, may malalaking boats, lahat-lahat were offered to us. Nakakalula talaga.”

“It was very memorable and amazing experience acting with Isabelle Huppert and being directed again by Brillante Mendoza,” she added. –With Boy Villasanta, abs-cbnNEWS.com