On March 23, France 2 offers a great evening around the dark period of our history which led to the occupation of France by Nazi Germany and the collaboration.
The evening opens with an unpublished fiction directed by Fabien Onteniente. The latter had had the idea for a long time to make his war film, to tell the little story in the big story. He bought many books on the subject, visited the landing sites and then he came across the novel by Christian Signol : “Children of the righteous”.
All that remained was to adapt the story, that of Virgil and his wife. In 1942, in the Dordogne department, the demarcation line crossed the course of the river. The Laborie farm is a stone’s throw away and Virgil, listening only to his heart, never refuses his boat to those who try to cross into the free zone.
And when we offer Virgil and Blanchewho have never been able to have children, to hide Sarah and Simon, two Jewish children lost in the turmoil, they welcome young refugees like a gift from heaven.
Over the days, unbreakable bonds are forged between them, despite the incessant checks, betrayals and denunciations.
To play the roles of Blanche and Virgile, Fabien Onteniente called on Mathilde Seigner and Gerard Lanvin whose strong character à la Ventura could portray a great Virgil.
Following the telefilm, France 2 will broadcast an unprecedented Infrared documentary : “La rafle des notables”, an adaptation of the eponymous book by Anne Sinclair.