They started talking about him as the “new Gaben,” meaning his appearance, of course. Savoring every feature, they described him as such a big guy, strong, strong, and he, as it turned out, envied Catherine Deneuve all his life. “Deneuve has that very masculine character that I miss so much,” admits Depardieu. He started out as a theater actor. After completing the courses and the School of Dramatic Art, he played in the amateur troupe Café de la Gare.

Depardieu is undoubtedly a lucky man. He appeared in the right place at the right time - the fashion for handsome men in films had passed by that time. Another topic required another actor, and he appeared, as evidenced by the first film - the short film “The Beatnik and the Pussy” (1965). Depardieu was lucky in another way - he got to the right film director in the right film. The film “Waltzing” by Bertrand Blier brought Depardieu fame. ⌠Twentieth Century■, ⌠The Unlucky■, ⌠My American Uncle■, ⌠The Return of Martin Guer■, ⌠The Last Metro■, ⌠The Neighbor■, ⌠Danton■, ⌠Tartuffe■, ⌠Camille Claudel■, ⌠Cyrano■ , ⌠Colonel Chabert ■, ⌠Green Card■, ⌠Christopher Columbus■, ⌠Guardian Angels■, ⌠Asterix■, ⌠The Count of Monte Cristo■, ⌠Vatel■. He was awarded the Cesar twice for “The Last Metro” and “Cyrano”. He became a Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honor, which, by the way, they wanted to take away from him - the actor often appeared in public places drunk, and was even sentenced to two months in prison (suspended). At the trial he repented and admitted that he behaved like a real man. Moreover, the word “man” was pronounced in Russian.

His documents indicate another profession - winegrower. Depardieu has vineyards on the banks of the Loire, between Saumur and Anjou. Every year it produces up to 250 thousand bottles of white and red wine, the cost of wine ranges from 37 to 125 francs per bottle. ⌠I taste my grapes, I crush them with my fingers, I cultivate the soil and find balance in this. As the roles are rehearsed, so I rehearse the taste of the wine■,” explains Depardieu. But that is not all. Depardieu was involved in real estate operations and controlled a company that bought oil wells in Cuba. He's unpredictable. 12 years ago he even published a book called “Stolen Letters”. The book made an impression and for several years critics talked about the emergence of a new outstanding name in French literature.

Take a closer look at his face and you will certainly see such indecisive and such ardent eyes, which, in fact, makes him damn charming. And few doubt that he is charming.

Marina Bagdasaryan

Faces of the festival: Gerard Depardieu.