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00:00:00 – 01:56:11
The video delves into the complex and enduring relationship between French singer-songwriter Françoise Hardy and musician Jacques Dutronc, showcasing their intertwined professional and personal lives. Despite a turbulent relationship marked by moments of neglect, infidelities, and differing personalities, they maintain a deep, unbreakable bond.
Both artists rose to fame in the music industry, Hardy with her evocative voice and simple music, and Dutronc as part of the band Les Cyclones, later achieving solo success with hits like "Playboys.” Their careers often brought immense pressure and stress, affecting their personal lives and leading to emotional challenges. Hardy, in particular, struggled with the overwhelming attention her rising career brought and faced emotional fragility, often foreseen by an astrologer influencing her decisions.
Despite Jacques’ frequent absences and flirting, they share significant milestones, including the birth and upbringing of their son, Thomas, who later pursues his own musical career. Their parenting styles differ, with Françoise being protective and Jacques using humor. Their relationship endures further strains due to Jacques’ depression and alcohol issues, which he eventually overcomes after a severe health scare.
Highlighting notable phases including Jacques’ acclaimed portrayal of Vincent Van Gogh and their eventual professional collaboration, they portray a picture of mutual respect and deep-seated connection despite living separately. The video ultimately captures the essence of their bond, underscored by artistic collaborations, personal trials, and unwavering support for each other.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, Jacques Dutronc anxiously waits for a phone call from his current partner, feeling pressured to propose a more serious relationship to keep her. He confides in his wife, Françoise Hardy, who lives just above him, without eliciting jealousy but rather understanding and encouragement towards his happiness. Despite their complicated relationship and living arrangements, Jacques and Françoise share an unbreakable bond. The video further explores their backgrounds, illustrating Françoise’s strict and emotionally challenging childhood and Jacques’ contrastingly free-spirited upbringing. Their individual experiences shaped their personalities and influenced their later lives and relationship.
00:10:00
In this part of the video, Jacques becomes immobilized for a year and uses that time to learn the guitar by ear, quickly mastering it and forming a band with his neighborhood friends. The band frequently rehearses and watches “The School of Stars,” a TV show that features emerging artists. Inspired by Johnny Hallyday’s (formerly Jean-Philippe Smet) TV appearance, Jacques’ band aims to audition with a record company.
They secure an audition with VOG, where they meet the intimidating artistic director, Jacques Wolfsohn, who signs them, leading to the birth of their band “Les Cyclones.” Similarly, Françoise Hardy attempts to chart her musical path, finding opportunity through VOG and the support of her mother. Hardy’s shy and introverted nature is highlighted during her first TV appearance and interactions with a magazine photographer. Despite her self-doubt, Hardy begins to make a name for herself, contrasting the struggles of Jacques’ band as it faces internal turmoil and eventual disbandment.
00:20:00
In this segment of the video, it narrates the rise to fame of Françoise Hardy and her relationships with photographer Jean-Marie Périer and musician Jacques Dutronc. Hardy, who initially preferred solitude, quickly became an idol due to her simple, evocative music and angelic voice. Périer, captivated by Hardy, took many iconic photos of her, leading to a close friendship and eventual romantic relationship. Meanwhile, Dutronc was fulfilling his military service, during which Hardy had a new hit song. When they met, Hardy wasn’t initially impressed by Dutronc.
The pressure and stress of Hardy’s rising career took a toll, and she struggled with the overwhelming attention. During this time, an astrologer predicted emotional fragility and complications in her love life, which later influenced her decisions.
As Hardy sought a guitarist for her tour, Dutronc was suggested, but he initially declined due to an impending marriage that he eventually canceled. This cancellation was driven by his passion for music over the pressure to conform to traditional expectations. Both Hardy and Dutronc then focused on their careers, experiencing similar emotional challenges, ultimately finding solace in their professions.
00:30:00
In this part, Antoine expresses high hopes for his project, but faces criticism from talent scout Jacques Volson, who despises his work. To undermine Antoine, Volson tasks his assistant Jacques Duron with creating a melody and finding a suitable singer in the protest wave trend of the 70s. Duron, reluctant at first, records a demo himself, which impresses Volson. Duron’s song gains unexpected popularity, eclipsing Antoine’s success. Duron, initially reserved and intent on enjoying the process rather than pursuing a career, becomes an idol with hit songs like “Playboys” and “Cacti”. His association with François Hardy, coupled with his evolving public image, solidifies his fame. As Duron charms Hardy with his humor and authenticity, their professional and personal bond grows, culminating in mutual attraction and romantic tension, despite Duron’s initial shyness and Hardy’s star status.
00:40:00
In this segment, Françoise Hardy and Jacques Dutronc’s relationship is detailed, highlighting its turbulent nature. Françoise strives to make their relationship work, preparing Jacques’ favorite cocktails and persistently trying to spend time with him. Jacques, often preoccupied with his friends, gives little time to Françoise, leading to her feeling neglected and competing for his attention. Françoise moves between frustration and resignation, using her music to express her feelings of absence and longing.
Complications arise as Jacques frequently indulges in flirtations and affairs, even meeting other women at gatherings. Despite professing love for Françoise, his actions suggest otherwise. Françoise’s anguish over his unfaithfulness culminates in her throwing away meaningful jewelry and distancing herself. Her ultimatum to Jacques, to choose between his friends and her, as well as to start a family, indicates her desperation and desire to solidify their bond. Upon finally becoming pregnant, Françoise takes time to gather the courage to inform Jacques, fearing his reaction. Jacques, surprisingly accepting on the condition it’s a boy, welcomes their son Thomas, born at the American Hospital.
The birth of Thomas brings unexpected joy to Jacques but does not significantly alter his lifestyle. Nonetheless, Françoise secures a major concession from Jacques, convincing him to live with her and their child, marking a new chapter in their relationship.
00:50:00
In this segment, it is highlighted that Françoise, a devoted mother, put her career on hold to focus on her son Thomas. They share a deeply loving relationship, with Françoise being extremely protective and attentive. Meanwhile, Thomas’ father, Jacques, has a more lighthearted yet complicated relationship with him, using humor to communicate. Jacques and Françoise have contrasting approaches to parenting, which occasionally causes tension. The segment also covers their personal lives, noting that despite moving to a new house, their lifestyle did not change significantly, with both having separate spaces. Jacques aspires to direct a film with a unique comedic style but faces challenges in securing financing, leading to a significant personal and professional setback. This disappointment contributes to Jacques’ struggle with self-doubt and a decline into depression, exacerbated by his excessive alcohol consumption. Ultimately, his severe drinking leads to a health scare that prompts him to quit alcohol for his wellbeing.
01:00:00
In this segment of the video, the focus is on the strained relationship between François and Jacques due to Jacques’ increasingly negative behavior. François, feeling isolated and tired of the tension, meets someone new and decides to keep her love affair secret while not divorcing Jacques. Meanwhile, Jacques receives a significant opportunity to play Vincent Van Gogh in a film by Maurice Pialat. Jacques is under immense pressure to meet Pialat’s high expectations, resulting in several demanding and tumultuous days on set. Despite suffering from health issues and depression during filming, Jacques completes the role with great dedication. His performance earns him a César award, but there are mixed emotions, including unease and a sense of indirect rivalry with the director.
01:10:00
In this segment, the focus is on Jacques Dutronc dealing with the emotional and professional challenges following a rough period in his personal life, particularly his turbulent relationship with François Hardy. Jacques is urged by his musician friend to return to the stage, despite his initial reluctance, and eventually decides to perform his old hits. His stage comeback proves to be successful and has a positive effect on his morale, although it does not repair his relationship with François. Jacques realizes the mistakes in his relationship over time and ends up spending a lot of time isolated in Corsica, reflecting on his past. Despite their issues, François proposes a duet, and Jacques agrees, signifying a complicated but enduring connection between them.
01:20:00
In this segment, the narrative focuses on the interactions and relationships within a family where the father is committed to doing things well despite facing challenges from his spouse, who has a complex character. Their son, Thomas, decides to make a record independently without informing his parents to avoid their worry. His father eventually praises his talent, especially his songwriting, while his mother initially worries but later becomes proud. Additionally, the video highlights the dynamics between Thomas’ parents, including their artistic endeavors and their private lives. Thomas’ mother is shown to be very supportive despite her initial anxiety, attending his concerts discreetly to avoid making him nervous. His father, known for being reserved, also attends a concert expressing pride in Thomas’s performance, noting similarities between them in terms of humor and presence on stage. The segment concludes by discussing the parents’ current lives, with his father in Corsica being cared for by a new partner, and the enduring bond between his parents despite their separation.
01:30:00
In this segment, the conversation focuses on the profound and enduring bond between two inseparable individuals, despite their past experiences and challenges. The discussion then shifts to Jacques Dutronc’s life in Corsica, touching on his affinity for the island and contrasting it with Paris. Dutronc reflects on his solitary yet fulfilling life, the clarity of relationships in Corsica, and his love for silence. He admits to a history of alcohol consumption, highlighting a period of complete abstinence. Relationships are a recurring theme, particularly his complex and enduring relationship with Françoise Hardy, marked by mutual respect and an understanding that transcends verbal affirmations of love.
01:40:00
In this segment, the speaker reflects on personal experiences and relationships. They discuss an individual named Thomas and his achievements, particularly emphasizing the significance of a duet. The speaker appreciates Thomas’s independence and intelligence in pursuing his own career in music. There is also an exploration of the dynamics between the speaker and another person, Françoise, highlighting differences in their perceptions and memories. The conversation covers themes of parental pride, creative collaboration, and the challenges of maintaining a long-term relationship, including how love evolves over decades and the concept of modern relationships, including living separately while remaining connected.
01:50:00
In this part of the video, the speaker reflects on their relationship with Jacques Dutronc, highlighting periods of loneliness and the cancellation of meetings. The speaker notes how these experiences contributed to their artistic expression, especially in writing songs that deal with themes of impossible love and pain. The discussion also touches on the significance of two wedding rings, one of which was lost due to a burglary. The speaker acknowledges that despite the ups and downs, Jacques held an irreplaceable place in their life, notably as the father of their child. There is also mention of a film where Thomas, presumably their child, concludes that the bond between the speaker and Jacques remains strong. Lastly, the speaker expresses a desire to see Thomas continue performing, while noting they currently have no future artistic plans and contemplating a period of rest.