“Valiant Hearts” with Anne Kalicky

Valiant Hearts, Anne Kalicky, Flammarion youth editions, is to be read from 9 years old. This historical novel is the adaptation of the film by Mona Achache which will be released on the screens next Wednesday, May 11, with in particular Camillle Cottin and Swan Arlaud in the cast. Before going to the cinema, franceinfo junior books invites you to immerse yourself in the story of this poignant film.

Summer 42, after the Vel d’Hiv roundup. Of all the Jewish children left without families and cared for by the rue Amelot committee, six of them are cared for by Rose, a young museum curator. She is tasked with smuggling them away in crates filled with works of art, including the Mona Lisa, which must be kept safe at the Château de Chambord. For Rose, it will then be a question of conveying his little proteges to the demarcation line to bring them to the free zone.

In this novel, explains Anne Kalicky, “We focused on the Amelot network and the OSE, the Children’s Relief Work, these two organizations, among others, nevertheless enabled the rescue of more than 5,000 Jewish children during the Second World War, so they played a very important role during the war, of course.”

Valiant Hearts also recalls, through the character of the very courageous Rose embodied by Camille Cottin on screen, the really important role of certain museum curators in safeguarding works of art during the war.

“Rose is inspired by Rose Valland, curator of the Jeu de Paume museum, who, during the Occupation, monitored the seizures and trafficking of works of art by the Germans, and she played a major role in resistance.”

Anne Kalicky

at franceinfo

“Rose Valland, adds Anne Kalicky, in particular for four years, has kept track of the movements of the provenance and destination of the works. She gathered a wealth of information essential to the Resistance so that these works of art can be found in museums or their original owners.

Anne Kalicky is an author and editor. She has notably written for Flammarion jeunesse, The Lagoon City.

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