American cinema tends to be more commercial, with big budget films and a focus on entertainment, while European cinema often explores more artistic and diverse themes. Of course, there are exceptions on both sides. I really loved L’Avenir [released in English as Things to Come] – your performance is superb and it’s clearly a very under-rated movie. Is it hard when people don’t “get” your films, or don’t you care? GasparGarcao
It was not at all under-rated. Not a blockbuster, but it got the Silver Bear in Berlin. It was quite successful, and critically acclaimed in France, so I don’t really get that question, but I’m happy to hear that it’s a wonderful film. In general, I never really read dreadful critics.
‘I create my own little territories’ … Huppert at the Venice film festival last month. Photograph: Mirco Toniolo/RB Multimedia/Rex/Shutterstock
When you were an up-and-coming actor in the 1970s, did you ever feel intimidated by the likes of Romy Schneider or Yves Montand when filming César and Rosalie, for example, or any other well-known actors? And what, if anything, did you learn from them? Rochelle60
I never really learned anything from anybody. I was very young when I did that film, and Romy Schneider was young, too, but a very big star. All those people were very warm and nice. That’s really the memory I keep: they really gave me such positive ideas that it made me willing to go on and on.
Have you had the opportunity to direct? Is that something you would like to do? writeronthestorm
Not really. I guess I’ve been asked a couple of times and I know that many actors do it now. I’m very fulfilled with what I do as an actor, because I always manage to create my own little territories and I always feel like it’s as much my film as the director’s film. If ever I direct a film, it will be more out of curiosity than really wanting to – just to see what would come out of my brain.
The Crime Is Mine is in UK and Irish cinemas now