Among the countless readings that populate his daily life, Nicolás Cabré He treasures with great dedication Haruki Murakami’s book “What I Talk About When I Talk About Running.” The memoirs of the renowned Japanese writer help him give free rein to his passion for running, a sport that allows him to become exhausted by physical effort, exorcise his demons and prioritize spaces that make it easier for him to find the values he prefers to manage today: the peace of mind to face his work frustrations and the unfinished business of not having been able to finish school. The freedom to be able to choose his work, happiness as a primary objective and the strength to face what he hates.
The excuse for the meeting with NOTICIAS is the premiere of a new version of “The king’s musketeers”, a work that at the time featured notable performers such as the remembered Hugo Arana, Darío Grandinetti, Juan Leyrado and Miguel Ángel Solá. On this occasion, Cabré is accompanied by Jorge Suárez, Nicolás Scarpino and Fredy Villarreal.
The comfortable seats of the Astral Theater serve to concretize the talk. At first, Cabré seems to transform into a cordial host who prepared his house for the tea ceremony on a rainy Buenos Aires afternoon. He seeks to be kind, hide his annoyance and deliver a bureaucratic smile in dribs and drabs.
As some prestigious comedian said, Cabré loved “Spotlight”, the only thing he regretted was that all the protagonists were journalists.
As the talk progresses, Cabré enters an imaginary and dialectical ring with NOTICIAS, he seems to feel more comfortable in the confrontation, glimpses of intolerance appear, a Wild Bull born in Mataderos emerges. La Ola is definitely no longer partying. With good will on both sides, the talk continues and the interview takes place.
Dressed in a suit, like his companions, he remembers one of the members of the group of friends from Another Round, the Oscar-winning Danish film. Perhaps a frenetic dance à la Mads Mikkelsen would serve to release tension and get rid of any discomfort. What a life, what a night. What a beautiful walk, although it is terrifying to go to the other side. Without paranoia, to be able to float like an asteroid.
News: He’s doing a lot of theater lately. We saw him in “A Woman Hurts”, he directs “Tom, Dick and Harry” and now “The Musketeers” is coming. You once said that theater gives you more freedom and happiness, does it have anything to do with that?
Nicolás Cabré: It has a lot to do with having time and it is a place that allows me to take care of what I think is most important to me. Like picking Rufi up from school, taking her for a snack, training, because I run, swim, ride a bike. Having that freedom to do things that are good for me allows me to enjoy coming to the theater and carry out my work with pleasure. Theater times suit me much better.
News: Now there are many adaptations according to the changes in society. Was it ever considered that a musketeer was a woman?
Cabré: No, but that should be answered by Manuel González Gil. This work has always been like this, although at some point “The Musketeers” were made. But this version is the same one that was made with Darío Grandinetti, Miguel Ángel Solá, Hugo Arana and Juan Leyrado.
News: Had you already worked with all the colleagues in this project?
Cabré: Only with Nico Scarpino and Jorge Suárez. We had crossed paths with Fredy Villarreal but we never worked together. A nice group was put together.
News: As many people know, you are a Vélez fan. Were you already a fan when you were little or is it something that arose when you were older?
Cabré: The truth is that I didn’t give much importance to football, my dad was a Boca fan, he wanted me to be in the same team and it didn’t matter a little to me. But when I was older, like 10, 11 years old, in the group of my old man’s friends there was Raúl Gámez and also Jorge Ribolzi. We always ate together on Saturdays, Ribolzi was coaching San Telmo so we all went to watch the games and on Sundays we saw Vélez, although in the group of friends there were people from different backgrounds. The truth is I wanted Raúl to win, so one day I realized that he was suffering a little, I felt bad when he lost and I said: “That’s it, I’m from Vélez.”
News: You worked a couple of times with Alfredo Alcón. What does it mean in your life?
Cabré: Working with Alfredo was one of the most wonderful things that happened to me in my life. Up on stage is the best thing that happened to me and is going to happen to me, down on stage too. He is always there, when I do something I remember the things he told me, Alfredo is always in everything that happens in some way.
News: Is not having finished high school a pending subject or has that already happened?
Cabré: Look, at one point I faked it, I started studying at night. But it was very difficult for me, the anecdote is that I was working and I was already half an hour late for school. They told me about the absences, so it was impossible, I couldn’t stop working. I tried, but then I threw in the towel, maybe one day I’ll do the test again, it’s a pending issue I have.
News: Are you more comfortable in drama or comedy?
Cabré: It is indistinct, it depends a lot on the work. It would be strange to say that my field is comedy because then a drama appears that I am dying to do and I will do it. “Los Mosqueteros” is a comedy that when Manuel González Gil finally handed it in for replacement, he was desperate to get me on stage, but I can do any genre. I really enjoy the drama too, I couldn’t tip the balance for either of the two.
News: After your experience directing, as a director do you understand actors better and as an actor do you understand directors better?
Cabré: (Laughs) I think so. One of the screenshots was that, seeing the actor from another place. I was always half involved, I asked, I allowed myself to speak and give my opinion, but when you are on the other side you see everything differently. Today I have a slightly more open vision.
News: In some interview I read him talking about the topic of sincerity. In an environment where everyone acts, is it more difficult to be genuine?
Cabré: It doesn’t cost me, it comes naturally to me. Sometimes it has created uncomfortable situations for me, but the truth is that I am not a person who does well to keep the things I think to myself. In general I say it and I can be exposed, but I wouldn’t be able to do it any other way. Not only in this world, anywhere else it is also difficult to listen or be in the mood to be told things as they are.
News: You did some things in film, but do you feel like you still need to make your big movie?
Cabré: (Thinks) In general I don’t pay attention to those things. I need to do everything, this is a very long race and I feel like I have everything to do. I see it as a path, not as a lack, it doesn’t move the needle for me.
News: We are sitting in a theater room. What does the setting mean to you?
Cabré: The place where I work, no more, no less. For me it is the space where I sometimes allow myself to play, where I have met different people and I have learned everything I know from many of them. I grew up on stage and on a set.
News: He was part of “Walsh Variations”. Was that also a job or did it allow you to learn more about a figure as transcendental as Rodolfo Walsh?
Cabré: Everything I know and what I am is largely thanks to work, if I have to do the math I spent more than half of my life working, that has allowed me to admire countless people like the figure of Walsh. Because it wasn’t just reading and informing myself, but meeting his daughter, for example. On this path you come across people who open worlds to you and who make your head explode and allow you to look into many doors.
News: You have the possibility to choose your jobs. Does that give you greater responsibility in terms of opting for quality proposals?
Cabré: Generally today I look for quality jobs, I know who calls me and what I want to do, but the fundamental thing is to surround yourself with people who give you the possibility of continuing learning, that is the premise. It doesn’t matter where, when or for how many. The idea is to nourish yourself and have a pleasant time, nothing guarantees whether something can go well, better or worse, I do not speculate on success. Today I am looking to improve my mental health and surround myself with people who will fulfill me.
News: At this moment, we Argentines are more “Vulnerable”, half “Without codes”, more “Gasoleros” or are we still “The only ones”?
Cabré: (Laughs) All that together.
by Leonardo Martinelli
