Vanessa McMahon

Interview with Olivier Lorelle

Olivier Lorelle, co-writer of Hors La Loi (Outside
the Law) (2010) about a family in Algeria of three brothers and
their mother who lose their home and must recreate their home in a new
world. Each of them find a new life in different parts of the globe;
Messaoud (played by Roschdy Zem) moves to Indonesia while Abdelkader
(played by Sami Bouajila) and his brother Said (played by Jamel
Debbouze) move to Paris. The three brothers reunite years later in Paris
to fight for their freedom in the city of Liberty, Egalite and
Fraternite. 

I spoke with Olivier in Cannes at the Outside the Law
premier afterparty and we shared our views about the world in general
and life as writers; his as a writer in Paris and mine as a character just
a wee bit like one from Outside the Law who lives a scattered
existence, on the move from city to city, country to country. Olivier
exclaimed his shock over my chaotic uprooted multi-national lifestyle
and I over his- a life as a successful writer in Paris with a Cesar and
Lumier Award for Days of Glory (2006) under his belt and
preparing to direct his first feature, Ciel Rouge (2011/12).

On Bastille Day as Olivier writes to me: "I'm finally, out of the
jungle, fighting for my life against the French army, the Vietminh, the
dangers of the jungle, and the most terrible risk of from being lost in
the jungles", he shares with me and all readers news about
his new film, Ciel Rouge.

Olivier: "Have just had one day in Alger for the première of Hors
La Loi, last Thursday. It's so sweet from you too speak about my film,
Ciel Rouge. I can say that I will probaly direct it next year.
It is the story of a French soldier, Philippe, in Indochine, in 1947 (at the
beginning of the war) who falls in love with a Vietminh girl, named Thi.
They are both about 20 years old. Philippe saves the life of Thi after a
attack and the flew in the jungle. They succeed to escape from the
French who chase them. After some days spent in the nature where
they feel the most powerfull love you can imagine,- [LOL]- Philippe
accepts to join the vietnamese whith Thi. But there the life  and the
fights again the French are very hard and cruel and it is not sure that
there love will survive..."

**Stay tuned for more on Olivier's new film Ciel Rouge as
well as interviews related to his recent opuses, Hors La Loi
(2010), London River (2009) and Home
(2008).

Interview by, Vanessa McMahon

Rachid Bouchareb and Olivier Lorelle 

see Hors La Loi trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1_opLxdpzE

see London River trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRsZ23K2rUA

see Days of Glory trailer here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv5dFyLui3U