Reem Kherici Broadcasts Chien & Chat on TF1 Amid Personal Sacrifices
French actress and director Reem Kherici brings her high-budget comedy Chien & Chat to television screens on Sunday, October 18, broadcast on TF1, following a production process that required years of intense dedication and personal sacrifices. The film represents a monumental milestone for the filmmaker, who poured seven years of grueling work and a dantesque budget of 21 million euros into the project.
The Cost of Cinematic Ambition for Kherici
Bringing the ambitious pet-focused comedy to life demanded a heavy personal toll from Kherici, who shares two young sons with actor Gilles Lemaire. To complete the massive production, the director spent extended periods separated from her children, who were four years old and eight months old at the time, while maintaining strict privacy regarding their lives. Despite their separation, Kherici maintains an exceptionally close bond with Lemaire, telling Paris Match in April that she will love him for the rest of her life. However, the star remains firmly committed to her personal independence, noting that she prefers living alone and previously maintained separate bedrooms during her relationship with Lemaire.
Collaborating With Former Partners on Set
Kherici maintains remarkably amicable relationships with the men from her past once romantic flames extinguish, frequently casting them in her directorial ventures. Philippe Lacheau is at the poster of Chien & Chat and also appeared in her earlier film Jour J. In Jour J, Lacheau shares screen time with another of Kherici’s former partners, Stéphane Rousseau. Kherici previously noted in July 2021 that she expects to care for these former partners throughout her life, even as the nature of their affection shifts.
Diva the Maine Coon Inspires the Big Screen
While Kherici fiercely guards her solo lifestyle, her Maine Coon cat Diva serves as the exception that confirms the rule and the primary inspiration behind Chien & Chat. The photogenic feline boasts a verified and humorous Instagram account and has previously crossed over into mainstream media. Diva once received an invitation to appear on a special pets-themed episode of the television show Quotidien in 2017. Beyond her cinematic muse status, the cat shares coautorship credit on Kherici’s book Diva : elle dit tout haut ce que les filles pensent tout bas.
Worth a look