#358 Raphaël Quenard & Charles Pépin : la solitude comme force vitale - confidences croisées

Raphaël Quenard is an actor, screenwriter, and now a director with his film I Love Peru. Charles Pépin is a philosopher and author of the book "Living with Your Past." This episode is the result of a meeting between myself and Amaury from Breakbuild, whom I sincerely thank. In such a polarized world, I wanted to build bridges between people who don't know each other and who, at first glance, have no connection. I asked Raphael about a topic that particularly interested him, and he spoke about solitude, so I decided to pair him with Charles. In this episode of Vlan, I brought together these two unique personalities to discuss a theme that deeply affects me: solitude. Whether in creation, love, or philosophy, solitude affects us all. But each person experiences it radically differently. Raphaël and I discussed the solitude of the artist, the solitude we choose and which becomes a source of creative power. He reflects on the creative process of his film, shot in chaos and vagueness, yet conveying a rare, sensitive truth. He also speaks, with great sincerity, of the loss of love that fueled this project, of that intimate fracture that often leaves us speechless. Charles illuminates our exchanges with his precise and luminous thoughts. He reminds us how solitude is a realm, punctuated by sublime moments and others, darker, where we doubt, where we search. He also speaks of moral solitude, that of facing our conscience, and that of politics, alone facing reality. I wanted to make this episode a space for encounter, for reflection, almost a parenthesis where we can think differently about our relationship to creation, to the norm, to marginality. With humor, depth, and sometimes even a form of poetry, Charles and Raphaël come together where we don't always expect them. In this episode, we also talk about breakups, docu-fiction, the pain of not understanding why you were left, and what it says about us. I shared my own experience, my "heartbreak first aid kit," and it fueled a real, straightforward conversation. Significant Quotes "I hunt for solitude. It connects me to my reptilian brain." — Raphaël Quenard "When you write, you are alone, but sometimes that's the greatest joy." — Charles Pépin "We're not taught to understand that there is nothing to understand." — Raphaël Quenard "Being unique is being alone in being yourself." — Charles Pépin "Love is the most priceless of drugs. And the most destructive." » — Raphaël Quenard 10 structured questions posed in the interview What connection do you make between solitude and the creative process? Is solitude a source of suffering or a resource for you? How do you experience recognition after a period of solitary writing? Can you be alone even when surrounded by others? How does fame change solitude? What role does solitude play in moral awareness? Why did you choose to talk about love in this film? What role does grief play in artistic creation? Is it possible to be friends with your ex or to love without merging? Is the breakup of a friendship more painful than the breakup of a romantic relationship? Key Timestamps for YouTube 00:01 – Introduction: A meeting between Raphaël Quenard and Charles Pépin 01:00 – The solitude of the writer and the creator 05:00 – The writing process, lack of inspiration, and discipline 09:00 – Chosen solitude vs. imposed isolation 12:30 – Marginality as a creative force 18:00 – The solitude of celebrity 22:30 – The creation of the film I Love Peru: chaos and docu-fiction 26:30 – Editing as a psychoanalytic act 30:00 – The solitude of politics and confrontation with reality 34:00 – Grief in love, a creative trigger 39:00 – Lasting love and impossible promises 44:00 – Fiction and documentary: finding the natural in film 46:00 – Breaking up a friend: silent pain 48:00 – Platonic love : a common misunderstanding 50:00 – Is it possible to desire someone after 40?