CONNOR MACLEOD's character in the Highlanderfilms lived for 450 years and saw all his loved ones die. But winning the leading role in the 1980s blockbuster has led to a charmed life for archetypal Gallic hardman Christopher Lambert who was in Cork yesterday to launch the 21st Cork French Film Festival.
New York-born and Swiss-bred Lambert landed the career-defining role alongside Sean Connery in 1985. He has appeared in all three Highlandersequels as well as in such films as Subway, Beowulfand Mortal Kombat.
Lambert (52) looked sprightly at the gala launch of the Bord Gáis Cork French Film Festival at the Cork Vision Centre in North Main Street yesterday evening.
At the launch were Yvon Roe D’Albert, French ambassador to Ireland, and his wife Marie Claude;director of Lambert’s latest movie, Alain Monne; chief executive of Bord Gáis John Mullins; and Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Dara Murphy.
The festival got under way at 7pm with a screening of Cartagena, a film from Alain Monne starring real-life couple Christopher Lambert and Sophie Marceau.
Iconic 1985 film Subway, directed by Luc Besson, will be screened this evening at the Gate cinema. Festival director Nora Callanan said the event has developed over the years into one of "national significance, screening Irish premieres, commissioning original works and welcoming icons of French cinema".
The festival runs until March 7th and will see Oscar-nominated screenwriter and Bafta winner for AmélieGuillaume Laurant in town, as well as the founder of the Cannes Film Festival Director's Fortnight, Pierre-Henri Deleau, who will present a new wave cinema conference in UCC.
One of the most highly anticipated films is the Irish premiere of I Killed My Mother (J'ai Tué Ma Mere), the winner of 14 international festival awards.