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From stage to fiction: Kendji Girac in front of the camera. He is the hero of “Champion”, directed by Mona Achache and broadcast this Monday, September 5 on TF1. The 26-year-old singer had always refused the roles offered to him until now. This time, the subject touched him. The TV movie tackles the rarely mentioned theme of illiteracy, a handicap that is no stranger to the career of Kendji Girac, determined to invest himself so that we dare to talk about it.
Dressed all in gray, sportswear and a beaming smile, Kendji Girac is one of those who don’t do things by halves, if we are to believe the generosity with which the singer, musician and composer bends to the exercise of questions- answers, without seeming either to pretend or to suffer from it. It is true that this is his very first telefilm and that the subject of Champion is particularly close to his heart: illiteracy. There is also a term that will come up constantly during this exchange, in his words but also in those of Mona Achache, the director, and Fabienne Arbelot, the producer (Vema Production), present at his side: sincerity .
In a few words, and without spoiling the plot, Champion is the story of an emancipation, that of Zack, alias Kendji Girac, a young carpenter, apparently comfortable in his skin, but who hides a secret, his illiteracy. A first role for which Kendji Girac has invested without counting. No doubt because, if it is indeed a fiction, any resemblance to its own story is not necessarily fortuitous.
What led you to accept the role of Zack?
Kendji Girac: What was decisive in my choice was the subject. Talking about illiteracy is important to me, because I know that there are people who face this problem and who hide. Myself, I had to face this difficulty when I was younger, which I kept to myself, and then one day, quite quickly, I realized that this was not the solution and that I had to speak, and that’s how I was able to overcome this problem, stop this blockage linked to shame, to feel good about myself. So, I would like everyone to be comfortable with this subject. This is my story, and suddenly, I want to help, and help those who dare not talk about their illiteracy.
Illiteracy is little discussed in society, and even apparently in families…
Kendji Girac: This is precisely what the TV movie wants to highlight. We must not silence what remains a taboo, because we can let years go by and thus miss out on our lives. This is Zack’s journey: at first he can’t read, but he fights, and by the end he’s fought denial, the habit of hiding and trickery. Going through this ordeal allows him to move forward, to become independent.
When you discovered the character of Zack, did he strike you right?
Kendji Girac: The first time I read the script, I found it incredible, true and very touching. As acting was a first for me, I worked a lot. I prepared with a coach whom I saw three times a week for three months. He helped me to feel comfortable, to make sure that I looked good on screen, that I was able to convey my character’s emotions as well as possible. He was filming me with his phone. I’ve never seen these little videos, and it’s good like that, it avoids focusing too much on oneself, at the expense of the message to be conveyed.
What was most important to you?
Kendji Girac: I really wanted to be as sincere as possible. Sharing real emotions was the most important thing for me. I entered Zack’s life, I completely monopolized the character, his thoughts, his physique too: as he is a boxing trainer, I reinforced my practice to be credible, I let my hair grow and beard, and afterwards, he became part of me, I became part of him, and that is a very powerful experience. I never imagined that one could experience such strong emotions in fiction. And then, as I was a younger pruner, it was nice to find this whole universe, magical, very manual. I was delighted to go back up in the trees. It was even very surprising to find all that in the screenplay, like the fact that he builds treehouses, which I did when I was younger, and which I had never talked about before.
And what do you think of the end result?
Kendji Girac: I was enormously touched, I forgot that it was me on the screen. I really saw Zack, in his difficulties, his ups, his downs, I was moved by this character that I created. I also found this experience quite incredible. And then, I learned to communicate emotions other than through music. That said, the music stayed with me throughout the shoot. I had my guitar with me all the time, and I played during breaks.
Do you intend to continue this commitment against illiteracy?
Kendji Girac: Yes quite. The National Agency for the Fight against Illiteracy (ANLCI) supported us in this project and I myself will be there to continue to support them. By embarking on this adventure with Champion, I am also committed to helping free speech, and it is a source of pride for me to be, at my age, the spokesperson for this fight. Personally, when I am not sure of the spelling of a first name, on the occasion of a dedication, for example, I am not afraid to ask how it is written. So you have to dare to talk about it, it’s not the end of the world, and it’s by talking that you can get help. Sincerity, always. I believe that is the key word.