Malik Frikah: the incredible journey of the revelation of L’Amour ouf

As the list of pre-nomines for the César of Revelation approaches and L'Amour ouf has just passed 3 million entries, we take a look back at the unique journey of its young hero.

Since October 16, release day of Love phewhis name is on everyone's lips. On those, at least who have already seen the new Gilles Lellouche. Malik Frikah. The interpreter, opposite Mallory Wanecque, of the impetuous Clotaire in his younger years managed to bring together those who were taken in by the film as the most reluctant. And he stands out as the male revelation of the year while the pre-nominations for the Césars in this category will be announced in the coming days.

His journey to get there, to land this role which has just turned his life upside down at barely 18 years old, has all the makings of a film in its own right, even if its script could have been rewritten because it was too good to be true. Both of his parents are dance teachers. From the age of 3, he was a student of his father, Jawad, a hip hop dancer and founder of the All'Style school in Alès. In intensive mode. Sometimes 10 hours a day. Until becoming at the age of 10… world breakdancing champion!

And the cinema in all this? “He's always been there. Every time I watched a movie, I never finished it. I went up to my room to imagine what happened next..”And then, one day, the spectator will enter the field.”My mother saw an advert for an extra in a film that was being filmed near us in the Cévennes. I got the casting call and, once on set, seeing young people my age playing important roles, I wanted to be in their place.“

Immediately, he confided in his mother. “I told him that's what I wanted to do with my life. She asked me if I was sure. I was determined and I think she saw the fire in my eyes.“So she decides to accompany him in this kamikaze jump into the unknown.”I stopped school and, while we really weren't rolling in gold, she stopped working to follow me to Paris and let me try my luck. We gave ourselves a year!“

A year with its share of hopes and doubts. “We went very low financially. I had no contacts but I didn't give up and I started to get a few castings.” With a handful of first small roles to boot. On TV in an episode of the series Camping Paradise. At the cinema in Apaches by Romain Quirot then Jeff Panacloc: In pursuit of Jean-Marc of Pef.

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So many little pebbles sown while continuing to dream of the big role, the one that would reward the sacrifices of a mother for the happiness of her son. And for that, it all starts with a small ad that he spots one day when opening his phone. “I followed the casting director of Love phew on the networks. And one morning, I see this ad where they are looking for teenagers with strong character for a film by Gilles Lellouche.”

Quite quickly, he sees this casting as a sort of double or nothing in the gamble of this year spent in Paris to try to break into the world of cinema. “I sent messages and messages to his assistants to participate in this audition. And it ended up working! “The beginning of a long, very long process:

“It was the holy grail for me, but it took almost five months of auditioning before I could meet Gilles! I worked day and night to complete each stage, even though I lacked information because I didn't have the script in hand, just the scenes I had to perform. I had to lose six kilos with stress.”

In each audition round, he eliminates competitors. Until the liberating phone call from Gilles Lellouche:

“It's been weeks since I slept! And finally, I was able to read the script. Every page was something! I could easily put images on what was written. Starting with my character, the injustice he suffers on a daily basis, this impossible love story which also helps to project oneself. But also the fact that beyond a love story, Love phew is also a story of violence and a social drama set in an era that I did not experience, the 80s. By documenting myself, I fell in love with this period that I did not know as I fell in love with this scenario.”

The rest, we know it. The presentation in competition at Cannes, the 3 million entries gathered in theaters in less than a month while awaiting a possible nomination for the César, or even winning the famous statuette in the revelations category, of which he will inevitably be the big favorite. The story is already beautiful, it would become magnificent.