It's out in theaters Wednesday: Denis Podalydès and Salif Cissé, an effective duo in the comedy "The Answerer"
Cedric Coppola Published on 06/03/2025 at 9:15 p.m., updated on 06/03/2025 at 9:15 p.m.
Pierre (Denis Podalydès), a writer overwhelmed by his fame, hires Baptiste (Salif Cissé) to answer his phone calls for him. With his spontaneity, Baptiste finds himself entangled in Pierre's intimate life: his mistress, his daughter, and those around him. Misunderstandings follow one another, and Baptiste, by falling in love with Pierre's daughter, gradually turns everyone's life upside down.
A comedy in the spirit of the timesSpotted at the Alpe d'Huez festival, where it won the Audience Award, Le Répondeur is based on an effective duo led by Denis Podalydès, impeccable as a solitary writer seeking peace at all costs, and Salif Cissé who, with his usual good nature, brings the necessary humanity to his voice actor who will juggle with words.
Far from falling into unbridled farce, Fabienne Godot, who directed the moving Nos vies formidables , about addiction problems, favors tenderness and avoids overly emphatic conflicts, delicately exploring the downsides of celebrity. The direction, wise, is in the background and we feel that at several moments, the actors still had something up their sleeves to go a little further, without forcing the point… Certain situations could therefore have been more hilarious and the concept does not seem to be fully exploited. On the sidelines of this impeccable duo, between this protective young man and this artist stuck in his chaos, the filmmaker establishes a sympathetic romance between Baptiste and the daughter of his employer. Enough to breathe a hint of romance into this contemporary comedy, as entertaining as it is endearing.
BY FABIENNE GODOT (France), with Denis Podalydès, Salif Cissé, Aure Atika... Comedy. 1h42. Our rating: 3/5.
A rising actor, Salif Cissé continues to attract the attention of filmmakers. Yet until now, he was more accustomed to playing supporting roles. The Answering Machine allows him to take a step forward and carry a film on his shoulders. A challenge he brilliantly takes on by slipping into the shoes of Baptiste, a café-theater actor specializing in improvisations, hired by a highly sought-after writer (Denis Podalydès) to impersonate him on the phone to friends and family. The beginning of misunderstandings, within a comedy expertly directed by Fabienne Godet.
1. A notable first role in “The Answerer”Salif Cissé finally lands a starring role in Fabienne Godet's Le Répondeur, where he plays a café-theater actor specializing in improvisations, hired to imitate a writer over the phone. He describes this role as "the Holy Grail for any actor: to carry the film, to be on the poster, to contribute to its promotion," highlighting an "intense and rewarding" collaboration with director Fabienne Godet.
2. A demanding and diverse courseThis thirty-year-old has already collaborated with prestigious filmmakers such as Guillaume Brac, Arnaud Desplechin, Valérie Donzelli and Olivier Assayas, and starred in the series Lupin, alongside Omar Sy. Upcoming to star in Love Me Tender and Météors, both presented at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section, he favors a "demanding, profound but accessible" cinema, inspired by directors like Christopher Nolan.
3. Fighting prejudice as an actor from a citySalif Cissé strives to overcome the stereotypes associated with his origins: "I no longer ask myself questions. At least I avoid the ones that white actors don't ask." Faced with the prejudices of certain directors and casting directors early in his career, he chose exciting artistic projects to remain true to his vision, refusing to limit himself to expected roles.
4. A sensitive and modern masculinityIn Le Répondeur, Baptiste, his character embodies a deconstructed, sensitive, and flexible masculinity, guided by the gaze of Fabienne Godet. He explains: "In life, I'm not aggressive; I like sensitivity and finesse." This role of benevolent imitator, who will restore order to his employer's life, reflects his desire to break down stereotypes about masculinity.
5. A theatrical anchor and ambitions for productionBeing on stage is essential to him: "Theatre is my life. Art saves people." He declined an audition at the Comédie-Française to preserve his artistic freedom, preferring to explore cinema and directing. After a short film, he is working on writing projects, while focusing on the release of the films he has already shot.
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