“Nightmare, manipulation, humiliation”, the shock accusations of a director against the actress

Everything seemed together for a great film, a adulated stara promising scenario, a motivated team. In addition, But behind the cameras, The dream would have turned into a nightmare. Consequently, Thirty years later. For example, a director, long remained silent, today denounces the attitude of Isabelle Adjani on the set of her film. Similarly, Manipulations, canceled scenes, climate of fear … Similarly, The actress, adulated by the public, is portrayed here in a completely different day. Moreover, What really happened behind the scenes of this feature film?

“She thought he was good when she was bad”: the terrible accusations of a director against Isabelle “nightmare, manipulation, humiliation”, shock accusations Adjani

A promising collaboration that turns into a nightmare – "nightmare, manipulation, humiliation", shock accusations

In 1992. Consequently, Isabelle Adjani agreed to turn in Toxic Affairunique romantic comedy of his career. Therefore, Seduced by the scenario of Philomène Esposito, she even moves to the director for six months. For example, After Serieouslya friendly complicity was then born between the two women. However, once the shooting is launched, Their relationship is brutally degraded. Moreover, What was to be a common artistic adventure turns to personal and professional disaster. The director today talks about a nightmarish shooting, marked by tensions, manipulations and deep disillusions.

Adjani imposes its choices. imbalances the project

Seduced at the start by the original script, Isabelle Adjani quickly demanded a complete rewriting of the scenario, relegating the second female character to the background. According to Esposito, the actress multiplies the extended text requirements, modified dialogues, “nightmare, manipulation, humiliation”, shock accusations reworked scenes. The director, sidelineslives a real hell : “I was crying in the toilet », she says. The production gives in to all the requests of the star. hoping to save the appearance of a film that has become, in their eyes, already compromised. The shooting is now Under the influence of Adjani.

A deleterious atmosphere and a paralyzed team

On the set of Toxic AffairIsabelle Adjani reigns as a absolute mistress. No one dares to contradict it, the producer, nor the technical team. Philomène Esposito, outdated, becomes the silent target of a system that folds the will of the actress. The casting director Françoise Ménidrey evokes a suffering director, who has become “un punching-ball”. The team turns in a sealed atmosphere, made of unsaid, fear and weariness. The film, planned for Cannes, is gradually transformed into time bomb.

Isabelle Adjani in the turmoil: a “nightmare, manipulation, humiliation”, shock accusations director tells of the infernal shooting of “Toxic Affair”

A brilliant actress. but not in this register

If Isabelle Adjani excels in Tragic rolesToxic Affair reveals its limits in comedy. Philomène Esposito quickly understands it: “She was a tragedian, not an actress. She thought he was good when she was bad. »» Fascinated by her beauty on the screen, the director blinds herself, despite the obvious signs of failure. Between an actress and artistic misunderstanding, the project is gradually collapsing. The initial ambition gives way to a bitter observation: Adjani was not made for the role, nor for this genre.

Rods: public humiliation

The 46ᵉ Cannes Festival, in 1993, marks the apotheosis of fiasco. During the closing projection, Toxic Affair is violently hue. The spectators whistle, leave the room, turn their backs to Philomène Esposito. Françoise Ménidrey describes a scene from a brutality : “I “nightmare, manipulation, humiliation”, shock accusations picked it up with a spoon. She was in tears. »» Rejection is total, the public slap. For the director, this humiliation signs the end of a promising career. And personal collapse lives up to its betrayal expectations.

Final breakup. radio silence

After the debacle, Isabelle Adjani dissociate of the film and cuts all contact with the director. “She completely zapped me,” said Philomène Esposito. Since then, the two women have never seen themselves again. Romantic comedy remains a unique – and traumatic experience for the actress, who has never held the exercise. Toxic Affair becomes a painful parenthesis in his filmography. For Esposito, it is the end of a dream and the beginning of a long media silence. A bitter betrayal, still long lived more than 30 years later.