French films have always been famous for their non-standard style and humor. A huge number of paintings were then adapted and re-shot in Hollywood, though without much success. Not the last place among the comedic directors of recent decades is Alain Shaba, whose filmography as an actor and author has more than twenty works. Especially successful was the highest-grossing French film of the two thousandth years, Asterix and Obelix: Cleopatra's Mission. He became popular not only in his homeland, but throughout the world.
From Oran to Paris
Alain Shaba was born in 1958 in a Jewish family living in Algeria, which was still a French colony at that time. Five years later, the Shaba family moved to Massy, ​​a small town near Paris.
From the earliest years, Alain Shaba showed the makings of a creative personality, was distinguished by quick wit and unconventional thinking. However, his inclinations were not well suited to traditional education.
During his studies, the obstinate teenager replaced more than a dozen schools, from where he was constantly expelled.
At the same time, Alain Shaba fell in love with comics, but after graduation, he focused on working with a microphone. In his youth, the future director worked as a musician, a DJ on the radio.
Finally, the talented guy was noticed by the HR specialist of the main French TV channel Canal +. Semi-nomadic life gave way to stable work on television, where Alain Shaba was the host of the weather forecast in the program "Monsieur Meteo".
Zero No. 3
The boring work of an ordinary announcer did not suit the ambitious Alain. He made friends with the actors Bruno Karet, Chantal Lobi, Dominic Farruja, and in the early eighties he organized a comedic group with them, which was ironically called “Zeros”. Something similar then appeared in Russia when the Masks Show and OSP Studio were formed.
The hilarious and enchanting parodies of "Zeros" on various topics were successfully shown on Canal +, and young artists became incredibly popular in their homeland.
In 1989, the composition of the group decreased after the death of one of the participants - Bruno Carriage. Nevertheless, the guys continued to work and, in the wake of their popularity, decided to swipe to create a full-length film. In 1994, the actors wrote the script for the film “City of Fear: Family Comedy”. In full force, they starred in their tape, with Alain Shaba playing the main role of inspector Serge Karamazov. True, in the credits he was not listed under his own name, but as “Zero No. 3”.
Departure for independent swimming
Despite the success of the joint picture, Alain Shaba decided to leave the famous trio and begin an independent career. He starred in the comedy film Josiane Balasco's “Cursed Lawn”.
Here, the actor appeared in the guise of an unfaithful husband, whose wife decided to have a lesbian romance on the side. The work of Alain Shaba liked the audience and film critics, who immediately nominated him for the main French award "Cesar".
A native of Algeria is not satisfied with the role of the actor and already in 1997 he was shooting his first film as a director. In the picture "Didier" the story of a dog that was in the human body was told, the main role was played by Alain Shaba himself. By the way, he invited Josian Balasco to a secondary role, for which he first starred, starting an independent career.
Shab's debut as a director was welcomed, and he received his first Cesar Award for Didier.
Success and failure
At some point, Allen decided to get rid of the template image of a comedian and starred in the dark film "Cousin". The role of a policeman became the first characteristic image of a famous actor and director.
However, he looked more organic in his usual role. Comedy films Alain Shaba are very successful. He starred in the comedy "For someone else's taste", voiced the French version of "Shrek."
In 2002, the director, together with producer Claude Bury, conceived an ambitious project called "Asterix and Obelix: Cleopatra's Mission." Alain Shaba writes the script for the picture, acts as a director, and also plays the role of Julius Caesar. This comedy film has become the most expensive French project in the field of cinema, it took more than forty million euros to create it.
However, the story of Asterix and Obelix was a huge success not only in France but throughout the world, attracting a huge number of viewers.
In 2004, Alain Shaba makes his next film, “One Million Years BC,” but it was received coolly by viewers and critics. In 2009, the Frenchman starred in the Hollywood movie "Night at the Museum 2", where he played the role of Napoleon.
The famous director and actor continues to work actively, stably releasing his new films.