They’ll always have Paris. Almost. In Dan Levy’s new dramedy Good Grief, a potential romance between Levy’s grieving Marc and Theo, a French art connoisseur, sends this engaging new film spinning in an intriguing direction. Dashing actor Arnaud Valois plays Theo and lays on the charm. But Marc is still distraught over the death of his husband Oliver (Luke Evans) one year earlier. Will their initial spark grow into a brighter fire?

This is the first film in a multi-project deal Levy secured with Netflix. In addition to Valois and Evans, the film also stars Ruth Negga (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Himesh Patel (Don’t Look Up), Celia Imrie (The Diplomat), and David Bradley (Harry Potter). Levy directed, produced, and wrote the story, which finds Marc leaning on his friends after his husband’s sudden death. The director dubbed it a different kind of gay love story, one that showcases the importance of friendship and comrades during major loss.

Theo becomes one of those comrades for Marc, with Levy and Valois sharing terrific on-screen chemistry as two people attempting not only to understand each other but also their own place in life during uncertain times. Valois shares more about Levy, working on the film, and other standout moments in this exclusive MovieWeb interview.

Perfect Chemistry From Day One
Good Grief Release Date January 5, 2024 Rating R Runtime 1h 40m

Arnaud Valois is fast becoming a familiar face. The engaging actor has previously shown depth and delivered nuanced performances in films such as Méduse and Spring Blossom. But it was 120 BPM where Valois turned heads. The 1990s-set drama chronicled the advocacy group ACT UP Paris and its demand that the government and pharmaceutical companies thwart the AIDS epidemic.

Valois possesses a certain elan, which no doubt intrigued director Daniel Levy. His character, Theo, appears in the second half of Good Grief when Levy’s Marc has descended upon Paris in an attempt to officially let go of his deceased husband, Oliver, and move on with his life. That plan fails to launch when Marc uncovers a secret about his marriage. Around the same time, he meets Theo.

“I was a huge fan of Schitt’s Creek,” Valois shares about joining forces with Levy, “but [being from] France, I didn’t realize he was such a star here. When my English agent called me and said, ‘We want you to do this, do a proper take, a good one,’ she was overexcited. So, the level was high.”

Related: Schitt’s Creek: 15 Best Fashion Moments on the ShowThe duo met over Zoom and went through a scene to gauge if they had the right chemistry. “I think it worked,” Valois humbly admitted, and when asked how he knew for sure he and Levy were the right match on screen, he adds: “It’s strange because I thought that would be difficult through Zoom — to really connect. And quite immediately we found we sort of bonded. I can’t explain why. We’d done the scene two or three times, and it felt natural, organic.”

Learning From Dan Levy

Without a doubt, Levy and Valois resonate on screen. Levy’s tale of lost love and moving through grief works best when it’s not forcefully revealing things. The director allows viewers to interpret how things may play out, especially with Marc and Theo. Levy’s love for creativity shines brightly here and there are several scenes he shares with Valois that simply shine — between the art and the on-screen chemistry, it’s something to relish.

Related: The 10 Best Coming Out Moments in LGBTQ+ MoviesOf working with Levy, Valois says he learned “so many things,” adding how vital it was to spend some time with the director and actor, “before reading scenes, talking about the characters, talking about him, talking about me. We were able to spend some quality time, and it was a real help. I think it’s the first time I was able to really connect with a director before. And I think because Dan is an actor, he knows that actors need material, real material, to create on set.”

That rare connection works in Good Grief’s favor. When asked what he felt might be most intriguing for viewers, Valois says:

“They’re going to be surprised at how good Dan is in a dramatic part. His ability to play very subtle and deep emotions is something quite new for the audience, and I think they’re going to love it. And [most surprised about] the film? Maybe the importance of a chosen family and friendship.”

That is the crux of Good Grief, after all. Between its exceptional cast, and a fine turn from Valois, especially, the film is bound to warm hearts. In the meantime, look for Valois in the very buzz-worthy upcoming Disney+ TV series, Kaiser Karl. The outing follows the rise of Karl Lagerfeld in 1970s Paris during the fashion boom. Daniel Brühl plays Lagerfield and Valois steps into the shiny shoes of rival Yves Saint Laurent. Stay tuned for more details on that.

Stream Good Grief on Netflix beginning Jan. 5, 2024.

Stream on Netflix