Born in the suburbs of Paris to parents of Algerian origin, the twins Zahia and Fettouma Ziouani have dreamed of only one thing since their earliest childhood: a career in the field of symphonic music, Zahia as a conductor and Fettouma , as a cellist. However, despite the unfailing support of their music-loving parents, and even after their entry into the prestigious Racine high school, nothing is won for the two 17-year-old sisters: from privileged and white backgrounds, their “comrades” have the advantage on them. To these inequities is added, in the case of Zahia, sexism, as we discover in the film entertainmentbased on the true and inspiring journey of Zahia Ziouani.
“A producer approached me with this project, stating that he believed it corresponded to my cinematic DNA,” explains director Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar, who met at Cinémania last fall with Zahia Ziouani.
For the record, we owe this filmmaker, among other things, the social comedy Bowlingwith Catherine Frot, also inspired by actual events.
“There was already a script, but I insisted on meeting Zahia and Fettouma so that they could tell me their story themselves; I wanted to immerse myself in their experiences. I then rewrote the screenplay based on what they told me. »
On this, Zahia Ziouani specifies: “You should know that at the start, it was a film project which would have dealt with classical music in the suburbs of Paris, and not with my story or that of my family as such. . However, as not many of us have this type of profile and have pursued this type of social commitment…”
The conductor’s knowing tone and smile clearly indicate that this is an understatement.
“When the producers approached my sister and me to tell us that it was finally our story that they wanted to tell, I do not hide from you that it was a bit abstract in my eyes. Because often, biographical films are about people who are really famous, emblematic, or who are no longer of this world… And then, in life, I tend to look ahead without dwelling too much on the past. »
“It sticks to our lives”
Ultimately, entertainment is more focused on Zahia, but Fettouma is very present.
“What was important to me is that this story be told with authenticity; that we do not fall into clichés and received ideas about the suburbs and working-class neighborhoods, ”notes the main interested party.
“What I aspired to at the time was that we could have access to the best music, my sister and I, even while living in a working-class neighborhood. Today, that’s what I always defend in my commitment, and I wanted all of that to come through in the film. Marie-Castille understood, and she rewrote the script so that it really fit our lives — previous versions used a lot of fiction. »
To add Zahia Ziouani, the sensitivity shown by the director immediately reassured them, her family and herself. The agreement of the conductor’s parents, who she describes as “fantastic, but very reserved”, in relation to what would be presented to the world, was a condition sine qua non.
Models of resilience and encouragement, these parents offer refuge to their daughters in the film. During a major setback, or even after having suffered yet another humiliation from peers justifying their attitude with the word “tradition”, the twins snuggle up and start again.
“Zahia and Fettouma told me several rather harsh anecdotes, reveals the director. The challenge, for the film, was to balance. I shot a lot more passages where the snobbery of certain students and their contempt was evident, but at one point I thought it would be too much if I used them all. And then, the music ends up bringing together a good part of the students, even some who, at the beginning, considered Zahia from the height of their a priori. »
Avoid clichés
On the subject of preconceptions, Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar explains that she received incredulous comments because her film does not depict assaults or drug use, although it is largely set in the suburbs.
“There is no rape, no theft… But it is in line with the experience of Zahia and Fettouma. So I decided to assume that the suburbs I’m depicting wouldn’t match those you typically see in movies. »
While Marie-Castille Mention-Schaar returns to this aspect, Zahia Ziouani firmly opines, not without rolling her eyes at the mention of the clichés of a certain “suburban cinema”.
To conclude the conductor: “You know, it is only now that I take the measure, the scale, of the project. Because, during filming, my sister and I were there to advise the actresses on a technical level, but also to help them appropriate our story. And in short, I approached this project like any professional mandate, but there, discovering the film that Marie-Castille made… It moves me and makes me happy, because it’s a film that will beyond our family history: it is a film that celebrates classical music, its beauty, its universality, and its place everywhere. »
The film entertainment hits theaters July 21.