Must-See Musical Alert! Jacques Demy Fans Will Love This New Show with Clara Luciani!

A Diverse Cast

From Paris to Rome in the 1970s, the fate of a struggling writer collides with that of a rising film star. Their journey to love is fraught with obstacles, misunderstandings, and twists.

The two passionate lovers in Joli Joli are masterfully portrayed by William Lebghil (The Sense of the Party, Hippocrates – Season 3) and singer-songwriter Clara Luciani (Miss). They are surrounded by an impressive cast including José Garcia (We, the Leroys), Laura Felpin (The Torch, the adventurers of Chupacabra, The Spirit of Coubertin), Grégoire Ludig (Mandibles), Vincent Dedienne (Plastic Guns), Victor Belmondo (Live, die, reborn) and even Thomas VDB (A Matter of Principle).

Pop and Modern Songs…

To craft this screenplay, director Diastème (A Frenchman, The World of Yesterday) teamed up with songwriter and performer Alex Beaupain, winner of the best original music at the 2008 César Awards for Love Songs by Christophe Honoré.

“I envisioned the story, Alex [Beaupain] played ping-pong with it and branched out into the songs, everything sort of created itself like that. After a few months, we ended up with a sung film,” explains the filmmaker simply. “The operetta is the ancestor of the musical, and we wrote it according to the rules of the art, that is, period-style, in four acts, a story of thwarted love, with an impediment, a misunderstanding, or a twist at the end of each act, and a happy ending. We didn’t want to parody; on the contrary, we thought it needed serious treatment, respecting the codes, while being genuine – and above all, having fun.“

Co-written as a musical, Joli Joli is carried by pop and modern songs reminiscent of Michel Legrand and sometimes Françoise Hardy. With its colorful and vintage aesthetics, the nod to Jacques Demy and his Young Girls of Rochefort is equally evident.

…To the Rhythm of Love!

Joli Joli is primarily a romantic comedy. “I’ve heard it twice now: ‘It’s a film that makes you want to fall in love,‘ says Diastème. “I won’t lie, that’s pretty satisfying. I’ve made films about hatred and death, so making one about love, about life, is really enjoyable.“

Together with Alex Beaupain, their aim was indeed to make a film whose beautiful goal was to make the audience happy. And they have succeeded: with its snowy settings and endearing, snow-covered characters, Joli Joli is the perfect blend of good cheer, humor, and love, ideal for watching alone or with family during the holiday season.

To warm your heart this Christmas, dive into the musical and romantic world of Joli Joli, now available in theaters.