Pom Klementieff's French Cinema Comeback: A Journey Back to Her Roots
A decade after her last French film, Pom Klementieff returns with a bang, starring in Guillaume Nicloux's 'Mi Amor'. This marks a significant homecoming for the talented actor, who has spent the last 13 years immersed in the world of American cinema. But here's where it gets controversial... is it possible for an actor to lose their native accent after years of living abroad? And this is the part most people miss: the challenges and learnings that come with returning to one's cultural roots.
In 'Mi Amor', Klementieff plays Romy, a DJ on a work trip turned vacation in the Canary Islands. Her sunny getaway takes a dark turn when her girlfriend goes missing, leading Romy on a quest that introduces her to a charming club owner (Benoît Magimel) and a cast of unsavory characters. Speaking to Variety, Klementieff expresses her excitement about this French project, a welcome change after a string of major studio productions. She admits to having forgotten her French side during her time in the U.S., making this return all the more meaningful.
What sets 'Mi Amor' apart is the opportunity it gave Klementieff to explore a character with a wide emotional range, a lead role that allowed her to delve deep into the many facets of Romy's personality. But there were challenges too, primarily her altered accent, a result of over a decade spent living and working in the U.S. - an issue that many expats can relate to. Despite this, Klementieff believes it added to the movie's authenticity.
Director Guillaume Nicloux praises Klementieff's and Benoît Magimel's deep commitment and inspiration, believing that when actors identify strongly with their roles, it benefits the film immensely. He enjoys relinquishing control and letting the actors fantasize and appropriate their characters, a process he finds fascinating and a driving creative force.
Klementieff echoes this sentiment, describing Magimel as an iconic actor with incredible career choices and a lovely person to work with. She credits him for making the quick shoot easier and for the palpable chemistry between their characters on screen.
Music plays a pivotal role in 'Mi Amor', not just because of Romy's profession as a DJ, but also due to Nicloux's decision to have an electronic score present throughout most of the film. The director collaborated with techno duo Irène Drésel and Sizo Del Givry, who composed an impressive 1 hour and 53 minutes of material. Drésel composed the pieces performed by Pom ahead of the shoot, which needed to be played live during the mixing scenes. The music motivated Nicloux's choices, guided the moods, and dictated the rhythm of the film.
In preparation for her role, Klementieff, known for her immersive approach, took up DJing. She received lessons from Drésel and Del Givry and conducted extensive research. She even experimented with a DJ table, training at friends' homes to perfect her craft. However, she admits to doing more 'air DJing' in the movie, highlighting the magic of movie editing.
Klementieff's attention to detail extended to other creative aspects, such as Romy's wardrobe and manicure. She brought her own clothes, went shopping, and mixed things up, enjoying the process of making it all work. For her, even the color of her character's nails is significant, as she does her own nails and loves the little details that tell a story.
Looking ahead, Klementieff hopes to balance major American blockbusters with smaller indie films, believing it's all about the director, the character, and the gut feeling of wanting to be part of a creative process with a particular group of people. It's a human experience, she says, one that she hopes to continue exploring in the future.
So, what do you think? Is it possible to lose your native accent after years abroad? And how important is it for actors to reconnect with their cultural roots? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
