jumper. Isabel Marant
t-shirt. American Vintage
bermuda shorts, sneakers + socks. Ami Paris
At just the beginning of his career, Samuel Kircher has already become one of the most compelling young faces in European cinema. After breaking out in ‘Last Summer’, the French actor returns with another emotionally raw performance in ‘Wild Foxes’, Valéry Carnoy’s intense coming-of-age drama set inside the brutal world of competitive boxing. Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival Directors’ Fortnight, the film explores masculinity, vulnerability, and the silent pressures placed on young men with remarkable intimacy.
In conversation with Schön!, Kircher reflects on cinema, adolescence, boxing, and the filmmakers who shaped his artistic imagination, from Ken Loach to Gus Van Sant.
polo shirt. Fursac
opposite
overalls + t-shirt. Souvenir Machine
shirt. System
sneakers + socks. Ami Paris
Your breakout performance in ‘Last Summer’ immediately put you on the international radar. How did your life change after that film premiered?
My life didn’t change from one day to another. I continued my studies in sound engineering for two years. But my love for cinema really grew during the shooting. Seeing the passion of all the people working on the film and the process of making a movie completely blew my mind. Since then, I don’t watch movies the same way anymore.
Was there a specific moment growing up when you realized acting was something you wanted to pursue seriously?
When I was young, my grandma gave me a Charlie Chaplin cosplay for my birthday. I started trying to walk like him and put my shoulders up like him.
jumper. Isabel Marant
t-shirt. American Vintage
bermuda shorts, sneakers + socks. Ami Paris
opposite
vest. ARKET
bermuda shorts. System
You come from a creative family — how much did your upbringing influence your relationship with cinema and performance?
A lot. When I was young, my family shared their favourite movies and music with me, and they brought me to dramatic theatres.
People have compared your screen presence to Vincent Cassel early in his career. How do you feel about those comparisons?
I’m happy about it — nobody told me this in the past. There was something really dry about these characters that I never had before.
What attracted you most to Camille as a character in ‘Wild Foxes’?
The pressure of the sports world and how it affects the lives of young adolescents.
overalls + t-shirt. Souvenir Machine
shirt. System
vest. ARKET
bermuda shorts + sneakers. System
socks. Ami Paris
opposite
vest. ARKET
bermuda shorts + sneakers. System
socks. Ami Paris
The film explores masculinity, pain, and vulnerability in a very raw way. What conversations did you and director Valéry Carnoy have before shooting?
He is passionate about dry anglophone cinema — movies like Ken Loach’s work, Gummo by Harmony Korine, and especially Gus Van Sant, whom I love and admire. He introduced me to these kinds of stories about adolescents fighting with what life brings to them, full of naivety and instinctive moves.
Camille is a boxer, but the film feels just as psychological as physical. How did you prepare emotionally for the role?
Discovering the boxing world and understanding what it means to try to evacuate pain in a competitive environment. We rehearsed a lot with the whole team.
The relationship between Camille and Matteo is incredibly intimate and layered. How did you and Fayçal Anaflous build that chemistry?
Fayçal completely introduced me to the boxing world. He was a champion when he was 10, and he was so passionate about representing boxing authentically in a movie that we all followed him. During shooting, he constantly told us what felt true and what didn’t.
Cannes Film Festival has now played an important role in your career. What does that festival mean to you as a young actor?
Cannes has a beautiful selection of movies every year. It’s a pleasure when they trust your film and want to present it.
Looking back at where you started, what would you tell the younger version of yourself before his first major audition?
Using your imagination, your heart, your breath — here is the beauty you can give to the world.
polo shirt. Fursac
photography. Claire Désérable
fashion. Léna Kalflèche
talent. Samuel Kircher
casting. Emma Fleming
grooming. Julia Krämer
production. Clara La Rosa
location. Office Objets
interview. Kelsey Barnes
