Interview Conducted

Lisa Azuelos: Turning a Life Story into a Universal Journey

by Guillaume Jean Lefebvre

For more than three decades, Lisa Azuelos has established herself as one of France's most distinctive storytellers. Whether as a filmmaker, screenwriter, or author, she has built a body of work that resonates through its emotional honesty and its exploration of family, identity, love, and resilience. Best known internationally for directing LOL (Laughing Out Loud) and Dalida, Azuelos has consistently created stories that connect with audiences on a deeply personal level.

With her new novel, On the Beach, Abandoned, she takes perhaps her boldest creative step yet. Described as her most intimate work to date, the book is a heartfelt exploration of her childhood, family history, and lifelong search for healing. Through memories of Saint-Tropez, reflections on difficult family relationships, and the resilience that has shaped her life, Azuelos invites readers into a deeply personal narrative that ultimately speaks to universal themes of forgiveness, self-discovery, and gratitude.

In this exclusive interview with Éclair Magazine, Lisa Azuelos reflects on the emotional journey behind the novel, the differences between writing books and making films, and why she believes that sharing our stories can help others better understand—and perhaps even love—themselves.

1. Your upcoming novel, On the Beach, Abandoned, is described as your most personal work to date. What made this the right moment in your life to tell your own story?

I think becoming a grandma transformed my life from mission to transmission. And also, I was asked to write a book about my lost paradise. It's the collection of the books, and it was the right moment to remember.

2. In the book, you revisit your childhood, including being sent to boarding school at the age of four. How did writing about these early memories affect you emotionally?

I already wrote about this. What is new is that I go up to now, which allows me to understand what I have accomplished, from a scared, tortured, abused little girl to the woman I am today.

3. Saint-Tropez plays a central role throughout your story, almost as a character in itself. What does this place represent to you today?

Bizarrely, it's a safe place for me. The only one in my life that goes from age 8 to today. It's my village that I saw grow up with me… although it had more plastic surgery than me :) It became something hybrid. Very wild and very fake at the same time. I only see the wild and authentic one.

4. Your novel explores complex family relationships, particularly those with your parents. What do you hope readers will take away from these deeply personal reflections?

I think they can enjoy some directions I chose, some strength I took from these experiences. They can feel less alone in a way that seems sometimes very bumpy.

5. Throughout your career as a filmmaker, you've often explored family dynamics and human relationships. Did writing a novel allow you to express emotions in a way that filmmaking could not?

Certainly. I can take much more time to express deeper emotions and sensations.

Talent: Lisa Azuelos.
Photographer: Stéphanie Merlin

Interview

6. You have built an impressive career as both a director and an author. How does the creative process differ when writing a novel compared with directing a film?

I don’t have to panic about how much it will cost on the screen! I can write a thousand UFOs in the sky, and it costs less. In a movie, it's not the same. Here also, I can share more of the deep truth that can be difficult to show on a screen.

7. Many readers will likely recognize universal themes of resilience, forgiveness, and self-discovery in your story. Were these themes something you consciously wanted to highlight?

Yes. My life has always been a search to understand the whys and the hows. I like to share my knowledge and understanding with the readers.

8. Looking back on your journey, what have been the most important lessons you've learned about healing and finding peace?

It's never acquired! Sometimes you think you've become so wise, and then something unexpected happens, and you're back to being a little scared girl again. It's a very humbling journey. I learned that only gratitude matters.

9. Your work has always connected with audiences on an emotional level. What conversations do you hope On the Beach, Abandoned will inspire among readers?

That they will benefit from all my inner work. That they will understand more quickly or more easily stuff that it took me years to understand. And also, maybe that they will love themselves—and maybe me—more at the end. :)

10. As you continue to explore new creative projects, what excites you most about this new chapter of your career, and what can your audience look forward to next?

I have no idea. I think I want to follow the path of Brené Brown, in a way. Make theatrical conferences and shows. Meet people in real life, organize dance events with people who want to have fun, and spiritual evenings. :)