FACT Chats: Luc Besson on directing, dining and Dubai
A Luc Besson action hero hits differently. The award-winning French film director is famous for his brazen characters, from secret agents to strong female leads – a 12-year-old girl looking to avenge her dead parents, anyone? Now, he is set to release his latest film, Dracula: A Love Tale . FACT met Luc at the Megacampus Summit Dubai, and he talked to us about directing, dining and Dubai.
Born in Paris, France, Luc's parents were scuba divers and he spent his childhood travelling to resorts. He visited Italy, Greece and Yugoslavia, and planned to become a marine biologist. After an accident, he switched his fins for films.
In 1983, Luc Besson released his directorial debut, Le Dernier Combat . His filmography includes La Femme Nikita, The Big Blue, The Fifth Element and Leon: The Professional. He has worked with Gary Oldman, Milla Jovovich and Natalie Portman, and won accolades ranging from the Cesar Award to Lumieres Award. Now, Dracula: A Love Tale stars Caleb Landry Jones, Matilda De Angelis and Christopher Waltz. Set in London, it tells the story of a 15th-century prince who becomes a vampire.
Following a career spanning five decades, Luc Besson reflects: 'I've absorbed films from all cultures: American, French, Japanese and Italian. It's pop culture. Was I raised on Truffaut and Godard? No. I didn't have a TV until I was 16 years old, and I started going to the cinema at 17 years old. I had no references. When I made my first film at 19 or 20 years old, a journalist referenced three films, which were supposedly the inspiration. I hadn't seen any of them. I had to buy a DVD player, and watch the films.'
Luc has created films in English and French, and worked in Hollywood and France. He bridges the gap between the American action genre and French auteurs. Over his career, films have gone from cinema to streaming. He laments: 'It saddens me but it's understandable. The turning point was Covid-19. People consumed fast food entertainment, and convincing them to return to MICHELIN-Starred experiences became challenging.
'There is no disrespect to these platforms, which I respect, but we spend more time scrolling for something to watch than actually watching. The quality of most shows is just not good. I go to fast food places with my kids, but I also go to three-star restaurants. It's not the same symphony. The difference between cinemas and streaming platforms is like the difference between a symphony and a pop song. It's up to artists to create films worthy of the cinematic experience. That's where the problem lies: artists aren't allowed to create'.
Luc Besson is one for looking ahead rather than to the past. So, what does the future hold for him and his career? He explains: 'I prefer to write the future rather than rewrite the past. When I see cancel culture, the toppling of statues and rewriting history, people would be better off creating the future. It shows a lack of power and ambition in certain generations who prefer to destroy the past rather than build a future. Picasso didn't criticise Raphael or Dali – he just created what he wanted to create. There's always something suspicious about criticising and dismantling the past; it often signals an inability to invent the future.'
Luc has been visiting the UAE for years, and admires its growth. He laughs: 'The first time I visited, there were far fewer skyscrapers. What I appreciate here is how the seemingly endless financial resources are used to ensure quality, whether it's in architecture, dining, museums or hotels.'
'What's great about today's interconnected world is that we can travel anywhere for €240, thanks to low-cost airlines. There's an incredible intergenerational and cross-cultural interaction. You can be in Rome wearing a Peruvian hat, eating sushi and listening to Bob Marley. This will create entirely new characters. Young French people are obsessed with South Korean dramas, and young South Koreans are equally passionate about French films. It's a beautiful cycle.'
Here's looking at Luc's next generation of characters.
GO: Follow @luc_besson_official on Instagram for more information.
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