Tahar Rahim, this chameleon actor known for his memorable roles in A Prophet and The Mauritanian, returns this time in the shoes of… Charles Aznavour. Yes, you read that right. In the biopic Monsieur Aznavour, directed by Grand Corps Malade and Mehdi Idir, Rahim takes on a monumental challenge: embodying the legend of French chanson. And it’s not just a matter of wigs or fake mustaches. It’s much more than that.
Slipping into Aznavour’s skin, an art in itself
To become Aznavour, Tahar Rahim spared no effort in his transformation. Wig, prosthetics, and even a fake nose (yes, a fake nose, ladies and gentlemen!). And yet, all of this was just the surface. Rahim went much further. He studied the gestures, the expressions, and even the voice of the singer. We’re talking about an actor who, as perfectionist as we know him, even went so far as to sing some of the songs himself in the film. Because, well, why settle for pretending when you can actually become the icon?
"There was a moment when I thought: ‘I’ll never make it,’" he admits. And we understand him! But after six months of intensive training, the actor finally felt old Charles whispering in his ear. And then, magic: Rahim was Aznavour.
Aznavour and Rahim: an unexpected duo
At first, the idea of playing Aznavour seemed far-fetched to Tahar Rahim himself. "I wasn’t initially offered this role," he confides. And guess who whispered in his ear to accept it? His wife, Leïla Bekhti. Yes, Mrs. Rahim saw what her husband didn’t see yet. And she was right. Because by diving into the life of the Armenian icon, Rahim discovered similarities he never would have suspected.
Just like Aznavour, Tahar has this fierce determination, this desire to see things through. But where Aznavour sacrificed everything for his career, Rahim remains firmly attached to his family. And if the two men find common ground on one thing, it’s this nervous impatience. You know, that way of moving, a bit fast, as if time was always running out. Rahim even recounts that while watching a documentary on Aznavour, he recognized himself in this nervous tic. And that’s when the magic began to work.
Too perfect to be true?
Tahar Rahim’s performance in the first part of the film is so impeccable that one sometimes wonders if we’re still watching Aznavour or just Rahim imitating Aznavour. Yes, by perfecting every detail, the actor transports us to a world where the performance seems almost too well-oiled. For some viewers, it’s a bit disconcerting.
But it’s in the second half of the film that Rahim truly drops the mask (and, literally, the fake nose). As Aznavour ages and accepts his imperfections, Rahim relaxes his performance, becoming more human, more vulnerable. It’s there that we find the emotional truth of the character, and it’s at this moment that the actor truly touches his audience.
The Aznavour who yelled at the kids
Moreover, this transformation was not without side effects on the actor’s private life. Tahar Rahim confesses, not without humor, that the role engulfed him so much that he "was Aznavour all the time, even at home." So much so that Leïla Bekhti sent a playful message to the directors: "I can’t take hearing Charles Aznavour yelling at the kids from the other end of the apartment anymore!" Apparently, the dad version of Aznavour was a bit stricter than expected.
But once filming was over, Rahim was able to leave behind the character of the singer. No identity crisis on the horizon. Yet, something tells us we haven’t heard the last of this performance.
On the road to the César Awards?
If Tahar Rahim’s performance in Monsieur Aznavour makes as much noise as predicted, there’s a good chance we’ll see him on the red carpet at the César Awards. After all, embodying a legend doesn’t happen every day. And Rahim, with his rigor and talent, has met the challenge brilliantly.
One thing is certain: Tahar Rahim hasn’t finished surprising us, whether with a fake nose or simply with his immense acting talent. As for us, we can only applaud and wait to see what he has in store for us next.