The series Carême starring Benjamin Voisin (Lost Illusions) and Lyna Khoudri (Papicha), and directed by Martin Bourboulon is the latest in French programming from Apple TV+. It debuts worldwide tomorrow 30 April 2025. We chat with director Martin Bourboulon, who also directed both of The Three Musketeers films, ahead of the series debut.
Martin Bourboulon, you’ve made some excellent films like The Three Musketeers and now this wonderful series Carême, which is also a period piece. What do you like about period films and series?
I’ve just made my latest film, which is much more contemporary, but it’s true that after The Three Musketeers, it was an obvious choice, something very natural to continue working on period films. What I like most is trying to find the little sideways step that allows the story to be told in the period, but at the same time finding the little elements that will try to modernise the period in the costumes, in the way of being, in the attitude, in the world. A bit like The Musketeers, in Carême we tried to bring in an attitude that was a bit rock’n’roll, a bit cool, a bit more modern.
Yes, with his earrings, his hairstyle…
Benjamin’s earrings, and the characters’ hairstyles too. That’s what it’s all about. I really enjoy trying to challenge the times a bit with a more modern vision.
What attracted you to the story of Antonin Carême?
For me, what attracted me to the story was the opportunity to make a series with a mix, a cocktail, pun intended, of themes that work well together and which, on the face of it, weren’t meant to be intertwined. I think that the tagline and the very catchy side of sex, food and politics, it’s so French and very universal and I think it was cool, it’s catchy. It really appealed to me.
I thought it was also a way of honouring the place that food takes in France, which has often throughout history been used in the service of diplomacy. And I thought it was a very interesting subject, with obviously a rather sexy side for the characters Benjamin and Nina, Agathe and all the characters around them. There was a good ensemble to bring a modern vision to this. So I was drawn to it, yes, indeed.
And what aspect of his life will surprise the public the most?
What will surprise people the most is perhaps the way he started out. In other words, someone who is going to start out. A young man from an underprivileged background who, thanks to his skills, thanks to what he knows how to do, is able to interest the people in power and is able to put his skills at the service of powerful people, in this case the politicians under the reign of Napoleon. I think that’s an interesting trajectory.
It certainly is. And how does the series reconcile historical accuracy with creative storytelling?
That’s always a freedom you have the right to use when you make shows or films. There’s a very interesting phrase, which I’m very attached to, which is to say, “not necessarily realistic, but all real-looking”. In other words, yes, we believe in everything. However, it’s our vision that takes precedence. For example, when we see the show, the valets, we’ve decided not to put them in the costumes of the valets of the time. But nobody has a problem with that. Nobody’s going to say “well, they weren’t dressed like that.”
It is not our duty, in my opinion, to be exactly as it was in reality. The show has to work, it has to be believable and the story has to be gripping. It’s like The Three Musketeers, we’ve taken some liberties. There’s no anachronism. That’s not allowed. That’s the red line. Personally, I don’t want to do a show where everything just goes any old way either. There’s no parody. There never is.
I think Carême was your first series.
Yes.
What opportunities or challenges does working on a series format bring you?
It’s very interesting. These days, it’s almost impossible to avoid series if you want to do this job, if you’re a director. It’s a medium and a format that you have to learn to work with and confront. So I did it. I’ve just made another more contemporary film, but I found the series experience very interesting.
I just wanted it to be for the right project and with the right platforms. And when Apple TV+ proposed making a very ambitious series on a subject like this, after what I’d done, it seemed like the right opportunity to take the plunge, to go for it.
Was this series your idea?
No. It’s a series that was developed by Ian Kelly and Davide Serino. It’s really important to note that they’re the ones who developed it: that they wrote it, that Ian wrote the book on it. And I had worked with the producer on another film called Eiffel. I knew she was developing it and I joined the creative team along the way.
How do you think Carême’s story will resonate with today’s audiences?
Well, you always hope, you never know. I think it might resonate because he’s young and he’s on a trajectory that’s noble insofar as it’s meritocratic. It’s also important to show that when you’re a young man from a disadvantaged background, you can achieve excellence and that you have to believe in that. You’re not just condemned to stay on course for the rest of your life. I find that very interesting.
And then I think that food, the place of the French art of living, but which is also very universal. You can see that with all the different TV programmes about food, competitions, top chefs and I don’t know what. There’s also The Bear, a series that’s been getting a lot of attention and I think it’s interesting. It’s a cool, sexy subject, I think.
Carême is an excellent series. I loved it.
Well, that’s great. Thank you very much!
In your opinion, why should the public follow the series Carême?
Why should they? A bit for all those reasons. We talked about a lot of things. I think that Apple TV+’s proposal to make a show that’s generous, visually ambitious and breathtaking is already a very good argument. In the costumes, the lighting, the show… And I’ve tried to set the pace.
I should also point out that there are other directors on the series. I did the first three and the artistic production, but there are two other directors, Laïla Marrakchi and Matias Boucard, who have also done a very, very good job on the episodes that follow. I really like the competition episode too, number 5.
I think it’s a series that unfolds with very different themes that coexist very well together. There are great relationships, love stories. There’s the treatment of food. We also learn about French history and that’s interesting. It’s always good to learn things in a fun way.
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We would like to thank Martin Bourboulon for this interview.
KEY INFO FOR CARÊME
WHAT: The series Carême directed by Martin Bourboulon, Laïla Marrakchi and Matias Boucard
WHEN: You can watch the first 2 episodes of the series Carême from tomorrow, 30 April, with a new episode every week thereafter until the series ends in June.
HOW: The series will only be available on the Apple TV+ streaming platform. Find it here.
If you don’t have Apple TV+, sign up via this link – NOTE You don’t need an Apple branded TV, laptop or PC to use Apple TV+
HOW MUCH: Your first 7 days are free and then the price is $12.99 per month.
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