“The incredible destiny of a fiercely free woman who – after a road accident that almost cost her her life – decides to reject her bourgeois environment and the life that had been mapped out for her, to fully live her dreams.. This is, in summary, the pitch of Flothe film by Géraldine Danon dedicated to the navigator and winner of the Route du Rhum in 1990, Florence Arthaud. A feature film which did not completely appeal to the family of the sailor who died in March 2015 on the set of Dropped nor Olivier de Kersauson, one of his former companions.
Olivier de Kersauson critic Flothe film about Florence Arthaud
If Olivier de Kersauson has remained silent since the release of Flo in November 2023, the navigator, columnist and writer decided to finally say what he really thinks of the film dedicated to the woman with whom he had a beautiful love story. The one who is played in the film by Alexis Michalik has just confided, to Paris Matchthat he was particularly outraged by what he considers to be a “lie, a sordid invention and an imposture”. “Nothing is true about it. He is odious in his dishonesty.”he denounces, specifying that he was contacted by the film team to talk about this project. He goes on to reveal the real reason behind his year-long silence on Flo. “I didn’t attack them, so as not to give them publicity. Destiny will take care of cleaning everything up”he continues before reestablishing his truth about his love story with Florence Arthaud. “It has nothing to do with what is being said.he protests. Florence was excessive, but above all she was courageous, intelligent, generous. She forgave everything and everyone. A secular saint, a barefoot countess. The people who made the film claim to know her, but they don't know her at all. We must not confuse close friends with bad company.”
The regrets of Florence Arthaud's family on Flo
Olivier de Kersauson is not the only one to have reservations about this biopic carried by Stéphane Caillard and directed by Géraldine Danon. Florence Arthaud's own family also strongly criticized the film upon its release. “I'm furious. We wouldn't have been against it if the film had been a tribute to Florence. This film is supposedly made by friends, but my sister was never friends with Géraldine Danon! She is one of these groupies, these businessmen…. Her film is defamatory from the first scene! She preferred to bring out the dark sides of the character, which existed, but which are totally distorted, even invented from scratch.“, said Hubert Arthaud, Florence's brother, in Closer. “It is a personal affront and disappointment to see my aunt's legacy caricatured in this way, just as it is insulting to see my father unfairly attacked. The memory of Florence, as well as the dignity of my family, deserve much more than what was presented on the screen.”reacted Charlotte Arthaud, Florence’s niece, on Allocinated. Marie Arthaud-Lingois, Florence Arthaud's own daughter, had also taken legal action to obtain a copy of the script before the release of Flo. A request that was refused.
