The announcement was made at the Madinat Jumeirah yesterday, as the pair promoted Al Kaabi’s debut short film The Philosopher, which had its world premiere yesterday at the Dubai International Film Festival.
Set in Paris, the 17-minute film tells the story of Baggio, who has found success as a sportsman and pianist among other things. But one day Baggio decides to trade in all his possessions – including his clothes – to embark on a life of quiet contemplation.
“You can ask why would Jean, who is more than 60 years old, do a short wmovie?” said Reno, who has appeared in big-budget films including Godzilla and The Da Vinci Code. “The film’s meaning is exactly how I feel about my own life. I don’t function with money, I function with my heart.” Reno also spoke about his desire to bring different cultures closer together.
“I was born in Casablanca, my parents were Spanish, I am French, I’m married to an English girl and I have a son with an American,” he said. “I consider myself a bridge; I like that idea.”
Al Kaabi echoed this sentiment, adding that he settled on English for The Philosopher’s dialogue to ensure it enjoyed as wide an audience as possible.
“What is film?” he asked. “It’s basically a cultural exchange between nations.”
The 24-year-old, currently studying filmmaking in Paris, also praised Reno for agreeing to appear in his debut short. “It’s great to see an artist who would believe in and support a young filmmaker,” he said. “Everyone can learn from this philosophy.”
Reno returned the love, calling Al Kaabi a ‘very artistic and honest’ person, adding, “It was easy working with Abdulla; when you have that chemistry, you want to give them everything you have.” Producer Cyril Deleye insisted that although the film was unlikely to turn a profit on its Dh1 million budget, he invested because of his confidence in Al Kaabi.
“I believe in Abdulla, and that he will be huge in the future,” he said. “I would like to do more projects in the UAE and France with him in the next few years. This is a start; I know the film won’t make any money. It’s a big investment but I believe in my dream.”
Al Kaabi revealed though that his first meeting with the producer didn’t quite go according to plan.
“Actually when Cyril first suggested Jean Reno for the film, I thought it was a scam!” he laughed, adding that the finishing touches were being made to Culture Shock’s script, and that the feature film would reunite the team behind The Philosopher.
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