When I saw the movie trailer The Agreementthe adaptation of Vanessa Springora’s book about the predator Gabriel Matzneff, I got goosebumps.
First, because we see a 50-year-old man having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl.
But also because it shows the excerpt from the show Apostrophes in which my friend Denise Bombardier bravely denounced Gabriel Matzneff, that famous French author who boasted about sleeping with minors.
I got goosebumps because Denise was so brave back then. But also because I find it infinitely sad that Denise, who passed away on July 4th, will not see the trailer released on August 17th and the film that will be released in cinemas on October 11th in France.
DENISE’S RECOGNITION
In the clip shown in the trailer, we see Denise calmly explaining, “We know that old gentlemen tempt little children with sweets.” Monsieur Matzneff lures them with his reputation. What we don’t know is how are these little girls doing? »
And that’s exactly the point of the film, which focuses on telling how the “little girls” are doing. Or not.
God I wish Denise was alive and seeing the recognition of her pivotal and forward-thinking role. And so that she can read all the articles in the French media that, in 2023, underline the courage she showed in 1990. By attacking Matzneff, she attacked a “holy monster” that was not in the background, but a “monster”.
In their texts on the film, French journalists recall Denise’s nerves of steel, who also explained on this show: “Literature serves as an alibi for this kind of self-confidence.” I think if Mr. Matzneff were more of an anonymous employee in any company, it would be held accountable to the judiciary. »
Robert P., a reader of the journal, wrote to me: “I would like to know if you will be writing about the new film, Le Consentement. […] What a shame Denise is no longer there to witness the about-face after her exit from the show, which was so fair and reasonable. Thank you for reading me and I look forward to you honoring the memory of this great lady, Denise Bombardier.”
Mr. P., it is you who honor Denise’s memory. They, like the many citizens who came to the Saint-Viateur church on July 14 to pay homage to him at his funeral.
People who came up to me to tell me how much they loved and appreciated Denise, her shows, her columns, her books, and most importantly, her “pearl front.”
A must-see film
In the film Le Consentement, Jean-Paul Rouve plays the role of Matzneff and Laetitia Casta that of the mother.
In an interview, Casta said, “The film is very disturbing, it’s very difficult, it’s not easy. We’re getting out of there… I was moved. It’s going to touch on something very deep and very difficult. You absolutely have to see this film! »
I hope the film finds a distributor in Quebec. Even if Denise won’t be there to see it.
At least his memory in France and Quebec will forever be linked to the word “courage”.