Gérard Lanvin Reflects on His Most Disappointing Film, "San Antonio"

Gérard Lanvin recently opened up about his experience filming "San Antonio," a project he joined just three weeks before shooting began. The film, which was released in 2004, aimed to bring to life the iconic character created by Frédéric Dard. However, the production was fraught with challenges, leading to a chaotic filming process and a dismal reception from audiences and critics alike.

Despite a significant budget, "San Antonio" attracted fewer than 300,000 viewers in France. It has since gained a reputation for its poor performance, currently holding a mere one-star rating out of five on AlloCiné, while critics have given it an average score of 2.3.

Last-Minute Casting

Lanvin's troubles began long before the film hit theaters. He was not originally part of the project and only learned about the adaptation at the last minute. "On est venu me chercher en dernière limite,” he explained in a 2007 interview, reflecting on how he was approached just weeks before production began.

He elaborated on the unusual circumstances surrounding his casting: "The producer was clever enough to pair Gérard Depardieu and Jean-Pierre Castaldi in 'San Antonio,' which was quite absurd since they are both of similar stature. Everyone in Paris was auditioning, and I had no idea 'San Antonio' was being filmed; they came to get me three weeks before shooting."

In a prior interview with Daphné Roulier, Lanvin recounted how he joined a project that had been in development for three years. "They fired everyone to bring me in at the last moment." His decision to accept the role was motivated by a sense of solidarity and the opportunity to work alongside Depardieu, even though he did not read the script before committing.

Production Turmoil

Lanvin's late addition was just one indicator of the film's underlying issues. He noted that the production quickly veered off course from its original vision. "Claude Berri became panicked in ten days. Everything changed, including the director. I could have walked away based on my contract, but I have honor. I continued to play San Antonio, even under different circumstances. Because in the spirit of the film, everything changed overnight."

Despite the turmoil, Lanvin opted to see the project through to completion. With hindsight, he admitted that he might have made different choices had he known what lay ahead. "If I had to do it again, I would avoid doing it, of course."

A Misunderstood Film

Nevertheless, Lanvin did not place all the blame for the film's failure on director Frédéric Auburtin. He defended the filmmaker, stating that Auburtin faced immense pressure to salvage a project that was already in disarray without adequate preparation. Lanvin expressed his dismay at the harsh criticism the film received after its release, particularly from certain figures in the French cinema community.

"We got massacred by people like Karmitz, who opened their mouths to trash us, like Chabrol. He really went after us..." Lanvin lamented.

He emphasized that the team worked hard to complete a troubled production and mitigate its financial losses. "We tried to do something. It’s a film meant for entertainment, and it didn’t deserve such vitriol from industry insiders. We saved Claude Berri and a colossal financial loss by finishing this film and trying to make it profitable. That deserves respect, not hatred. I was shocked by so much cruelty for no reason. But then again, we are in a system that isn’t kind, so you have to accept that."

More than two decades after its release, "San Antonio" remains a symbol of both its box office failure and the tumultuous conditions of its making, which Lanvin has never shied away from discussing.