Weight loss and almost documentary scene narrated by Eric Cantona, filming Colossus with clay feet

Worried about telling this true story?

Not possible. Before I got the script, I was sent Sébastien’s autobiography, which ended with the trial. One of the only questions I asked myself was: “Where is my seat ?“But I want to interpret this role because there is a message.

Is it a public interest fiction for you?

Yes, this movie is important because it really is a plague. The Sébastien Boueilh case is not isolated: one in five children experienced the same thing… Some even reproduced it. The fewer victims there are, the fewer people there will be to reproduce it.

Sébastien in his book “emotional death between the ages of eleven and thirty-four” and the fact that he’s only cried twice in twenty years…

We feel in the story that he cannot love anyone else unless he can love himself. But he becomes a raw-skinned man, and the violence he can have is an emotion. He has buried so much in him… If we manage to cry, I think we are able to speak, although the reactions differ from person to person. She has since managed to cry and speaks very freely about what happened to her. Sometimes even in a very crude way. It’s like he’s telling us about the races he’s going to do, and sometimes he can even disturb the people around. Its mission today is to raise awareness so it doesn’t happen to others. And very beautiful.

Did you give yourself the freedom to interpret, or did you want to stay as faithful as possible to the man you’re playing?

I met Sébastien before filming and he would often come on set for really important scenes, like in his first speech. I wanted him to be there and discuss it. I instinctively felt something, but aside from honesty and correction, I wanted his approval to be as close as possible to what he was experiencing at the time and the difficulty of pulling it all out. I didn’t know what was going on. Although the movie was inspired by his life in general, it remains his story. It is also comforting to know that we are on the right track. Its affirmation allows you to liberate yourself.

Sébastien Boueilh describes his case as follows: “best day ever”. How was the shooting of this important scene?

I remember this sequence… At one time the presiding judge contradicted the accused, “No, sir, you…” I found his accusation odd before he went to trial, because that’s not the job of the Justice. I asked Sébastien and he really did. These are the little details that give this TV movie so much credibility.

Was it hard for you to see you relive some difficult things?

On the contrary, it did not put any pressure on me. From this work with Sébastien came the confidence and pleasure of interpretation.

Director Stéphanie Murat said that the scene where you meet the students was almost a documentary…

True, these children were not actors, but real students of the school. Children who may have experienced things themselves. I talked to them, as Sébastien did during his interventions. (Along with The Colossus with clay feet, editor’s note). Almost documentary. This order is important. I talk to their children like everyone else in front of their television screens.

You lost ten kilos for this role. You also dyed your beard and hair. Why ?

I doubled up on my gym activity to strengthen my slim and muscular side. At that age, I tried not to transform myself, but to resemble Sébastien as much as possible. It’s still powerful and impressive at the same time.

This movie was shot by Stéphanie Murat, who previously directed you. Traveler. Did its presence reassure you about the workings of this story?

I have known him for a long time and I love him very much. Maybe it’s something special that a woman directs this movie. He knew how to handle things, especially in the scenes between the boy and the aggressor. Not from the front. He demonstrates this with great mastery, and that doesn’t take away the power of the sequence.

interviewed a few months ago by setSébastien Boueilh drew attention to the fact that the FFF does not react to cases of sexual violence: “FFF (French Football Association, editor’s note), this is called the “big idiot”. (…) We have to revive these federations in the hands of the ancestors of the sport! Then I want equality, not just diversity. look, when there is a woman at the head of the federation on sexual violence Things are getting a little faster.“… What inspires you in this statement?

FFF is very little interested in… We talk about racism and sexual harassment, and they don’t care even if it’s everything that happens in football. But this does not only concern the sports field, this scourge exists everywhere: in church, in schools, at home… According to the figures of the association, one out of every five children suffers from this scourge. Clay Footed Colossus. This is huge…

Pauline Hohoadji