L’Alpe d’Huez Festival 2026: meeting with François Damiens and Audrey Lamy for Police Flash 80
Police Flash 80 set Alpe d’Huez on fire: this generous, precise and madly human 80’s comedy owes a lot to the interpretation of Audrey Lamy and François Damiens. Meeting with two excited actors.
If you’re wondering what it looks like Really the interviews carried out at the Alpe d’Huez Festival, that’s it: it’s a mixture of fun, good humor and unexpected events that must each time be made more or less readable. Nothing really makes sense, everything is constantly going off the rails, but that’s exactly it – the spirit of the festival.
In the middle of a week where we were running everywhere, where the actors were asking questions, where there was more laughing than working, we met Audrey Lamy and François Damiens. Flash 80 Fontthe film they presented, is one of our favorites this week. We wanted to talk about it with them, but it didn’t go as planned. Here, almost raw, is a piece of our daily life. It’s joyous, uncontrolled, and if you really want to know what the film is worth, read the review instead.
Well here we go, it’s recording. And to start…
Audrey Lamy: … Wait, are you recording with this thing (she shows the flat digital recorder like a bank card)? Not on your phone?
Yes, it’s connected, and it’s transcribed afterwards. Don’t panic!
AL: Great! Next year, there won’t even be a need for a journalist… But wait, is that for Première? You did a great review of the film! THANKS !!
François Damiens on the phone: Hello? Yes, have you seen the film? I think it will work yes!
AL: François, it’s not serious!
FD: But no, they are sure of themselves. Okay I have to leave you. Come on kisses. (to us): it was my mother. She loved the movie. For once!
On stage, before the film François, you turned to Audrey, you took her in your arms and you said to her: “Thank you for trusting me”. What did that mean?
FD: We loved touring together. It was a really special atmosphere. The whole gang was great, and they were real playing partners. Which, strangely, is not that common.
AL: When I left the film, I told myself that I only wanted to shoot with nice people. Sometimes you get along less well with a co-actor, and that really affects your desire and your work.
Well…that doesn’t always make for good films.
AL: no, but it’s more pleasant.
FD: Meeting Audrey, with her simplicity, her kindness… it was… she’s a bit like Alexandra, they have this…
AL: wait are you comparing me to my sister?
FD: Oh no, not at all. Exactly… I was going to say that I like your sister much less. She is more show off in quotes. Very pretentious (laughs). And I’m less sensitive to it. I like it less. Audrey on the other hand, she is more organic.
AL: Since this morning you want to put this word in all your interviews. No, but seriously, the joy of working together is true. The joy of seeing you every morning in makeup. I said to myself: “Okay, I left my kids this week, but it’s worth it” – what fun we had right from the makeup! When I saw him arrive with his wig, his glasses, his suit…
François: Uh… the wig? Are you sure? (Damiens has no hair in the film Editor’s note). Okay, I made myself fat on purpose for the movie. I gained 10-11 kilos for the role. At the request of the director, I specify. The Al Pacino of the Butte. But no wig! No, but where Audrey amazed me was that at the end of filming, she gave everyone a gift. Hey, I remember when you offered her jug of pastis to an assistant. I asked him: “But where did you find this? » and very naturally, she told me: “In Aix-en-Provence this weekend. I know she likes pastis, so I couldn’t resist. » Imagine, during her weekend, she thinks about the technical team. So. That doesn’t mislead. I love normal people and Audrey, she’s normal.
AL: The team was great. We wanted to be generous!
FD: What was really different was that in the game, we were there for each other all the time. We wanted each other to be the best possible. I once happened to say to an actor or actress: “It would be nice if you did like that.” » And the other answers you: “You’re nice, but I know what I’m doing.” » . Well… With Audrey, never. We said to ourselves: “Maybe add that?” Take that off? » You really feel confident. And all of this is overseen by Jean-Baptiste, who has it under his belt. You feel that he makes things, that he knows his job. Sometimes, on a comedy, you get bored. It’s like cooking without being hungry. There, never.
There is a real level of references in the film. What were your models from the 80s?
FD: Next question? No desire to answer that. (Laughs) I’m joking, but I don’t really know what to say.
AL: I was a big fan of the Splendid. The troupe side: these sometimes idiotic, absurd, grotesque characters but so human that you love them all the same. These are people you can meet on the street. And on Flash 80 Fontwe really tried to find that again: being caricatured, but never excessive. The characters had to always be credible.
That’s true: François, we should hate your character who is racist, stupid and misogynistic. But we love him anyway.
FD: Because he realizes terrible things: that his best friend fucked his wife, that he was cheated on… When you have empathy for him, you can make him do the worst things, he redeems himself by….
(Vincent Macaigne appears)
AL: Are you okay Vincent? I’ll come later. Here I am in an interview for Première. It’s important and what’s more, they liked the film….
Vincent Macaigne: Are you okay?
AL: Yes, yes… I’m coming, I tell you.
VM: Big dogs! Everywhere !
One last question…
AL: Oh wait, Vincent wants to stay with us…
Did you see Flash 80 ?
VM: But I was in it, didn’t you see me?
FD: Ah well I swear, it’s a nice pirouette to say that you didn’t see the film yesterday! Eh ? Nice for friends. A beautiful piece of trash, I tell you! ah get out, go swim in the sea
VM: we are in the snow François
FD: nothing to worry about! Go eat your raclette.
One last question. It’s about François references, you’ll like it. Did the director give you specific references from the 80s? Films or atmospheres to nourish your characters?
Audrey: I don’t think so.
François: No more. Except for some Sunday night cop movies you watched with your family. But I forgot the titles.
