Author: Gilles Medioni Publisher: Flammarion Year: 1995
On March 8, 1993, the French Champsélysées Theater was surrounded by flowers and colorful flags, but the "18th César Award" award ceremony held here was shrouded in a solemn and sad atmosphere.
Because three days ago, Cyril Collard (1957-1993), the director of the film Les nuits fauves (1992), France's most talented young director, was killed by AIDS. People shed tears of sadness in tribute to the director who died young.
Cover of the movie "Night Mania" (1992) Japanese brochure
Therefore, although Régis Wargnier's Indochine (1992) received 12 nominations and took home five awards, including Best Actress, making it the most awarded film of this year, the real winner of the César Award was undoubtedly Cyril Corral and his self-directed "Night Mania".
Because, never before has a dead person been so touching at such a grand movie event.
Poster for the American version of the movie Indochina (1992).
The film "Night Mania" not only won the Best Debut Award, the Best Editing Award and the Best New Actress Award, but also won the Best Picture Award, creating a precedent in the history of the César Awards that a film won both the Best Picture Award and the Best Debut Award.
That day, when female producer Fathi Nairadesilil Kolar took the stage to receive the award, the audience replaced warm applause with cheers, and the scene was really moving.
At the beginning, it was Fathi Naira's unique vision that accepted Cyril Corral's proposal and filmed "Night Madness", which made a different film in the history of French cinema.
Stills from the movie "Night Mania" (1992), Cyril Corral
People will not forget that since October 21, 1992, "Night Mania", the first film describing the life of AIDS patients, was launched in France, Cyril Corral's unusual directorial techniques, handsome appearance, superb acting skills of the male and female protagonists, together with the theme of people talking about tiger color change, immediately attracted the attention of connoisseurs and the public, and 900,000 viewers watched the film.
When the news spread that Cyril Corral had been killed by AIDS, the theater showing "Night Mania" was even fuller.
Stills from the movie Night Mania (1992), from left: Cyril Corral, Romana Paulinger, Carlos López
Critics believe that from a sociological point of view, the artistic charm of the film lies in the fact that it reverses the attitude of French society towards AIDS patients; Cyril Corral himself is not only a victim, but also a hero, only he dares to dare to reveal his life through the art form, which shocks, inspires and instructs.
Cyril Corral was born on 19 December 1957 in Paris to a father who was the head of the French Olympic Committee and a stay-at-home mother. As an only son, he lived a carefree life from an early age.
He loves sports, is gifted and talented in mathematics, passed the secondary school entrance examination at the age of 15, is a high-achieving student in a prestigious middle school, and was admitted to an engineering school in Lille.
But at the age of 20, he was bored with the same way of life, saying, "I aspire to create!" So he gave up a college degree and turned his interest to film. But this is not a smooth road, and it is a hard time to taste...
Stills from the movie "About Our Love" (1983), Cyril Corral and Sandrina Bonaire
Because of his talent for writing, acting, singing, and singing, he was quickly appreciated by director Maurice Pialat (1925-2003), who asked him to be an assistant during the filming of Lovers Loulou (1980) and About Our Love À nos amours (1983).
This has benefited Cyril Corral tremendously. He then made some short films and TV films, and also began to write novels.
After writing and directing the short film "Grand huit" (1982) in 1982, Cyril Corral showed a growing interest in film, and hoped to independently direct his own film as soon as possible.
Cyril Corral (left) on the scene of the short film Grand huit (1982).
In 1985, Cyril Corral recorded the rock record "Maria Tres" with French actress Sandrine Bonnaire.
He then starred in the TV movie Mariage Blanc (1985).
Then, when he finished his debut novel "Love Criminal" in 1986, AIDS had cast an ominous shadow over his life.
At that time, Cyril Corral seemed to be more nostalgic for those bars and woods, because those dark nights could give him endless motivation and inspiration.
Written by Cyril Collard Publisher: Editions Flammarion Published: 1993-06-23
After all, in those days, people's sense of protection was weak, and for the sake of momentary pleasure, they were destined to leave endless pain.
When he thought that life was the way he wanted, it was precisely because of the chaos of his emotional life that he was eventually punished.
Just when he has chosen the path of a new life, the fate of tragedy is already doomed...
When he learned of the AIDS contract, he was very sad and sad, because he did not know who infected him, and he tried his best to contact those people to inform them of his illness, but he was met with cynicism. This made him even more confused.
After all, life goes on, and those people are still around him.
In 1986, he wrote and directed the 28-minute short film Alger la Blanche (1986) based on his novel Love Criminal.
Stills from the movie "Night Mania" (1992), Cyril Corral
This short film is more about the frank and racial tension of passion and violence, and of course the emotional drama is also essential in this short film.
In 1987, he wrote the novel "Incurable Love". The book describes a boy who, after tasting the taste of sexual liberation, discovers that sex is not free and must pay for it. More than 15,000 copies of the book were sold.
After the novel was published, he publicly announced that he had AIDS, but what made him more sad was the indifference and discrimination around him, which also made him more aware that life is his own and not in the eyes of others.
In this novel, Cyril Corral is actually talking about his initial understanding of the AIDS situation and the perception of him around him. Later, he also adapted the novel into a short film and put it on the market.
While shooting this short film, Cyril Corral finally realized that even if it was "messy", it was better to arrange the rest of his life clearly, which gave him greater creative motivation.
In order to live, he also starred in the TV series "Le Lyonnais" (1989) and wrote the soundtrack for the show.
Stills from the movie Night Maniac (1992), from left: Cyril Corral and Carlos López
In 1989, he wrote the autobiographical novel Night Maniac, the most interesting thing about this novel is that it completely changed the "politically correct" view of AIDS.
The novel Night Mania thoroughly examines his bisexuality and his disdainful, unrealistic and irresponsible views and approaches to illness.
Although this treatment seems a bit idealistic and unrealistic now, the romance in his bones has never been erased, perhaps this is his true inner self.
Stills from the movie "Night Mania" (1992), Cyril Corral
After the novel came out, it was well received in circles, so he adapted it into a film script in 1990.
But the filming plan was repeatedly rejected by the producer, and eventually the project attracted the female producer Fathi Naira, but the budget she gave him was not very large at the time.
What no one expected was that it was this project that made several investors at that time make a lot of money, but the real beneficiary was no longer alive.
At the beginning, Cyril Corral struggled to choose the leading actor, because many actors were worried that their image would be damaged, especially the character of "AIDS patient" scared them...
Cyril Corral watching the film
Although it was not the original intention, Cyril Corral felt that there was not much time left for him, so in May 1992, Cyril Corral had to personally compile, direct, and act in "Night Madness".
Because even those who come to the audition act too seriously and clumsily, many actors rely too much on facial expressions, and he is eager to find some kind of balance between animal nature and human nature ... So he decided to play the leading actor himself.
When he told producer Fathi Naira about the decision, Fathi Naira supported him in the action.
Stills from the movie "Night Mania" (1992), Romana Polinge
Next, the actor of the heroine Laura also hesitated. The people who came to the audition were either too mature or too enchanting, which made Cyril Corral anxious like an ant on a hot pot, because he still wanted to insist on the female image he wanted.
Suddenly Romane Bohringer appeared in front of him. She is a bit difficult to categorize: young, innocent and somewhat quite mature in opinion.
She is closer to the role than those naïve or contrived actresses... Romana Pauline, who has never acted in a film, worked with Peter Brook (1925-2022) in the classical play The Tempest (Shakespeare's masterpiece).
Romana Paulinge and father Richard Polinger
However, once the performance program of the drama stage is abandoned, the filming enters a more passionate realm, "That's great!" ”
Speaking of Romana Polinger, she is the daughter of French actor Richard Bohringer.
Her family is full of the warmth of love, the quiet and bright countryside of her childhood, and she is constantly pulled onto her father's stage, making her a natural actress.
At the age of 13, out of curiosity, she played with her father in "Kamikaze"; Soon after, she played a role in "Lajaz".
Stills from the movie "Night Mania" (1992), Cyril Corral and Romana Pauline
At the age of 17, she had an important opportunity to play Princess Miranda in the classic drama "The Tempest" directed by Peter Brooke.
Trembling and stuttering, Romana Pauline caught the attention of the theater master, "Puyu" was discovered and she began a year-long performance around the world.
Luck followed: Cyril Corral chose her to play the heroine of "Night Mania" - Laura, who was quite difficult to perform.
She couldn't forget the long, almost frantic wait she had for that role, the ecstasy of almost giving up but finally getting it.
Stills from the movie "Night Mania" (1992), Cyril Corral and Romana Pauline
The experience of acting was painful, but it also left extremely good memories, because "when I was frightened by the love scenes and violent scenes in the film, I never met an indifferent gaze", "so I can proudly say: I gave everything I could!" ”
And Cyril Corral himself played the male protagonist in "Night Mania" - a hedonistic, pretentious filmmaker with insatiable desires.
Despite his AIDS, he insisted on living a completely desolate life, albeit with a tragic end.
Stills from the movie "Night Mania" (1992), Cyril Corral and Romana Pauline
Cyril Corral's character in the film is actually him in life, and he is by no means like Derek Jarman (1942-1994), who wants to squander his willfulness and enjoy his own fun when he leaves.
It was precisely such an uncompromising work that both delighted the French audience and thoroughly angered them – because no such "madman" used all his physical, mental and artistic inspiration to complete the last movement of his life.
Cyril Corral was one of the first French to publicly declare that he had AIDS, but instead of repenting, he continued to live the life he wanted, and French critics could only praise his brave and controversial attitude on this taboo subject.
That night, the heroine of "Night Mania", 19-year-old Roman Pauline Ger, was both the lucky one and the saddest one by one Best New Actress Award. She burst into tears and wept silently over the loss of her close partner.
The 18th César Awards, from left: Catherine Deneuve, Romana Pauline, André Dussollier
At the award ceremony, Romana Paulinege cried at his statue and shouted his name, saying that if I only made one movie in my life, it would be "Night Mania".
Cyril Corral is gone, but he exposed his life on film, once again sounding the alarm to those who advocate sexual freedom: free sex is the noose of the death penalty!
10 March 1993. The famous Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris. Thousands of people gathered here, silent and solemn. The son of cinema, Cyril Corral, will be buried here.
Cover of the French magazine Paris Match, promotional photo of the film "Night Maniac" (1992), Cyril Corral and Romana Pauline
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