By turns, he scandalises and enthrals. Now, the country's most famous actor is leaving home, angry at the imposition of a new 'supertax'. As he seems all set to settle in Belgium, is this really adieu from Gégé?
From which ever angle you view him – literally, metaphorically, physically – Gérard Depardieu is a colossus of Gallic life.
The term most frequently used to describe the bon vivant but volatile embodiment of French popular cinema is "une force de nature".
Even as the off-screen – often drink-fuelled — excesses of Gégé, as he is fondly known, became ever more outrageous, his legion of French fans would shrug and say it was simply Depardieu being Gérard. As he stuck a chubby finger up to convention they laughed. The more undignified the performance (falling off his scooter while drunk, peeing in the aisle of an aircraft) they still laughed: this was Gérard, no mere mortal but a national institution.
From which ever angle you view him – literally, metaphorically, physically – Gérard Depardieu is a colossus of Gallic life.
The term most frequently used to describe the bon vivant but volatile embodiment of French popular cinema is "une force de nature".
Even as the off-screen – often drink-fuelled — excesses of Gégé, as he is fondly known, became ever more outrageous, his legion of French fans would shrug and say it was simply Depardieu being Gérard. As he stuck a chubby finger up to convention they laughed. The more undignified the performance (falling off his scooter while drunk, peeing in the aisle of an aircraft) they still laughed: this was Gérard, no mere mortal but a national institution.
- 12/23/2012
- by Kim Willsher
- The Guardian - Film News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.