At 64, Jean-Claude Van Damme is more than an icon: he is a national enigma, a living legend of action cinema, and the only man capable of philosophizing about the universe while doing the splits between two Volvo trucks. Invited on Sept à Huit, the man still nicknamed "The Muscles from Brussels" proved that he was much more than a pair of oiled biceps and an encyclopedia of spinning kicks. Spoiler: he is also a misunderstood poet.
The hero with feet of clay… and his head in the stars
Jean-Claude Van Damme, it’s a life at 200 km/h, a Hollywood career launched with powerful kicks in the 80s and 90s. Cult films like Bloodsport, Kickboxer, or Timecop, a sculptural physique worthy of Greek statues (more flexible), and choreographies that make Bolshoi dancers jealous. But behind this tough guy aura hides a fragile man. And a bit quirky.
Facing Audrey Crespo-Mara, he reveals: "My children don’t know me. I’ve spent fifty years in hotels." One imagines for a moment a Van Damme wandering from suite to suite, exchanging high-kicks with room service. "They admire me, but I think they’re jealous," he adds, without flinching. One can understand them: it’s hard to compete with a father capable of breaking bricks… or metaphors.
Aware… but on another planet
JCVD is also a modern-day poet. Who hasn’t been touched by his passionate call to be "aware"? During his interview, he once again pushed the limits of human reflection: "The Mona Lisa doesn’t see herself, it’s us who admire her." A phrase that must have made more than one art historian sweat. And that’s not all: "I respect supercomputers, they know the future." A punchline worthy of Matrix, but with less leather.
These statements, often mocked, actually hide a genius of parallel thinking. He himself is amused: "People listen to noises, not sounds. I think at an incredible speed." And we believe him. The only problem is that his speed often exceeds that of our neurons.
A career in the splits
Despite the ups, downs, and splits between two semi-trailers, Jean-Claude Van Damme remains a survivor. In 2025, he will return to the screen with The Gardener, a film where we can already imagine him finding an elegant way to kick butt while pruning roses. Always capable of self-mockery, he proves he can juggle between action, comedy, and zen philosophy – a sort of Shaolin monk with a touch of hair gel.
And how can we forget his legendary Volvo commercial? A breathtaking split, between poetry and precision mechanics. If one day we had to sum up Van Damme’s life, it might be this: a perfect balance between madness and genius, between seriousness and absurdity.
JCVD, the man, the myth, the paradox
In summary, Jean-Claude Van Damme is a national treasure. Half-martial artist, half-self-taught philosopher, totally unique. He may be parodied, but he is also admired for his raw sincerity, his boldness, and his lines that defy gravity as much as his flying kicks. "It’s the public that created me," he says with humility. And it’s true: we need heroes like him, a bit eccentric, but so endearing.
The interview ends on a hopeful note: "I’ve lived through five divorces, but today, I still believe." Proof that even in chaos, Van Damme remains optimistic. And if the future holds a sixth marriage for him, or a philosophical retreat in a Buddhist temple, one thing is certain: it will be spectacular, unpredictable, and, of course, aware.
