with a proof, neither the Foundation nor Emmaüs considers the group of the biopic released in 2023 – Libération

2024-09-27 14:52:04

Abbé Pierre casedossier

A French Radio investigation published on September 27 confirmed that the Emmaüs foundation had received several months ago the testimony of a woman who suffered Abbé Pierre. Without the intention to tell the group of the film that comes out in November 2023.

Before the repeated acts of sexual violence by Abbé Pierre came to light, there were films. FromWinter 54 (1989) with Lambert Wilson Abbé Pierre, a life of struggle (2023) by Frédéric Tellier, the latest biopic to date, these works have in common the desire to tell the story of the “real” Abbé Pierre. Disturbed thoughts after the revelations that began in July by the Egaé investigative report in which dozens of women reported sexual assaults of Abbé Pierre.

Has Frédéric Tellier, director of the new biopic, with actor Benjamin Lavernhe in the title role, made you aware of the abbot’s character before watching his film? According to Research published by French Radio This Friday, September 27, at the time of the theatrical release in November 2023, the directors of the Abbé-Pierre Foundation and Emmaüs have received for several months the testimony of a woman who was a victim of the actions of the man of the church . . However, while the directors of the Abbé-Pierre Foundation and Emmaüs participated to varying degrees in the preparation of the film, at no point did they decide to pay attention to the group.

“The Beginning of Things”

In May 2023 Emmaüs France received this testimony. Victim reporting “Contacts on your chest, when you were a child, in the family home” with Abbot Pierre. Once he grew up, he was the victim of a forced kiss – “He put his tongue in my mouth in a cruel and completely unexpected way,” he said – and will continue to suffer heavy and insistent preparation for years. In the process, Emmaüs International and the Abbé-Pierre Foundation were informed in June.

“I met this woman in September 2023, along with other workers,” Remembering the former President of Emmaus France, Antoine Sueur to Radio France. “For me, the idea is to listen carefully, not to suspect. And that was like a punch. What happened to him really made him. I feel this will be the starting point of an article. He said: I’m sure I’m not alone, I’m asking you to do research, research, verification. And that’s how we started. ” After this interview they will conduct research and report from the Egaé group.

“I do not know the dark side of the Abbé Pierre,” specified Antoine Sueur on Radio France. In shock at the time of proof, but not enough to warn the team of the film Frédéric Tellier, which is preparing its promotion. “We must understand that at that time, we are not yet in the case and the revelations. We don’t know where we are going. Do we always make the right choices? I do the best I can, I accept our share of fault and responsibility. “

“What is clear is that we will not promote the same”

Laurent Desmard, the last private secretary of the abbot and honorary president of the Foundation, is connected to the preparation of the biopic. He played a consulting role there, working with the director and actors. He will learn more about Abbot Pierre’s character. Previous research by French Radio published on September 14 also quoted the testimony of a former manager of Emmaüs involving Laurent Desmard. From the 2010s, the private secretary will have “says that it is necessary to watch the Abbé Pierre when he is with women. He is afraid that he will suddenly lay his hands on their breasts.”. Evidence is denied “steady” by Desmard.

Promotion of the film Life is a struggle so get here without a hitch. And secretly. “Stopping the promotion of the film meant making public the only evidence of what was known at the time,” today justified the Emmaüs movements to French Radio. Before adding: “We thought about, and continue to think about, that conversation before making one research work and many testimonies will be dangerous. This would have made a single victim bear the weight of the revelation and undoubtedly would have caused a great resistance in the society to know the truth of the facts.

So, the next day before they published the research of the Egaé team, they finally reached the film team. “I don’t have any statistics to settle but I think that if we had known about it, it could have stopped the release of the film,” replied director Frédéric Tellier to Radio France. “What is clear is that we will not promote the same.” Before adding : “I make a film thinking that the subject is there… and it’s not there. Abbé Pierre changed the world of poverty. Does all this bad behavior negate his struggles? It spoils them in any case. “

According to information from Paris from September 24, TV channels may not broadcast Frédéric Tellier’s film at all. The biopic has already been removed from its platform by Canal +.