Cinema Quote by Mick LaSalle
““WHEN I INTERVIEWED ISABELLE HUPPERT, I mentioned in passing that she has the strongest body of work of any actress in the world. She insisted otherwise, and I insisted back, and she denied it again, and I conceded that maybe, just maybe, Meryl Streep might be tied with her in the magnificent résumé department. To which Huppert said something quite interesting: "You know, it’s more again a symptom—I mean it really tells something about our relationship to cinema in Europe, which is slightly different [than here in the U.S.]. Here it seems like, you reach a certain point, actresses work less. And maybe also we have this idea to make movies more cultural than entertaining, a more existential thing than here. And so together it makes [for] a different relation to our craft." ””
About This Quote
Source Interview: Mick LaSalle with Isabelle Huppert, date unknown
Explores how European cinema values cultural depth over pure entertainment, affecting actresses' career trajectories and artistic choices.
In simple terms: European film focuses on culture and meaning, influencing how actresses work.
Key Takeaway
Recognize differing artistic priorities across regions.
Themes
cinema
career
culture
artistic values
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
observational
critical
When to use this quote
- acting career planning
- film criticism
- cross‑cultural analysis
- artistic collaboration
Key Concepts
existentialism
regional differences
industry dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does cultural focus shape an actress’s career?
- What trade‑offs exist between art and entertainment?
A Different Perspective
European market may limit commercial opportunities for actresses.
![“For all of [Fanny] Ardant’s ability to depict a range of emotion, I most associate her with joy. Not necessarily the depiction of joy, but rather a joy of acting, a joy of being, a joie de vivre . Ardant, in her mature performances, conveys the sense of someone bringing to scenes her full being…” quote by Mick LaSalle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ca2/mick-lasalle-23709_joie-de-vivre_for-all-of-fanny-ardant-s-ability-to-dep_65181.jpg)
