Christophe Charlier, businessman, owner of the Château de La Motte-Feuilly, is involved in the production of documentary films or films carrying strong messages. The one which will be screened on Thursday June 13 at 8:30 p.m. at the Lux cinema in La Châtre and followed by a debate is SHTTL, of which he is a co-producer. It recounts the invasion of Soviet Ukraine by the Nazis, during Operation Barbarossa during the summer of 1941, notably in a Jewish shtetl village, villages which disappeared with the extermination of the Jews and Soviet collectivization. The return of a young man, Mendele, after two years of studying cinema, stirs up quarrels between secularists and religious people, in particular between him and a former butcher who wishes to become a rabbi and who is about to marry his ex -fiance.
How did you become a film producer and why this one?
Christophe Charlier: “In 2012, I started producing documentary films, including The Color of Victory in 2014. That’s when I met Ady Walter, the director of SHTTL, then in 2020, Jean-Charles Levy, co-producer. Bonds of friendship were thus born, with the desire to participate in the transmission of important messages, in sad stories, so as not to forget the disasters that have already unfolded, with the rise of anti-Semitism. »
What impact do you hope for?
“The expected impact is even greater than initially expected, to make people understand the dangers of hatred and fear of others. Social changes, the creation of the USSR and the historical aftermath, the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army in 2022 and today the clashes between Israel and Palestine are reminiscent of the past. We must stay united! »
How did you experience this shoot?
“We had reproduced an identical Jewish village, given that they were destroyed during the Second World War. The Ukrainian authorities asked us to preserve it in order to transform it into a museum. Today, this territory is covered in mines, the film crew was unable to return there. We didn’t think we would relive such dangerous acts for the world. Personally, I am very touched by the film and the current facts. I worked in Russia for seventeen years, married to a Russian woman, mother of my two eldest children. They worked with me on this film, made Ukrainian friends during filming and were very saddened by their departure into the army to defend their country. »
Screening of “SHTTL” at the Lux cinema in La Châtre, Place de l’Hôtel de Ville, on Thursday June 13 at 8:30 p.m., followed by a debate with the film team. Price: €6. Such. 02.54.48.02.76.
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During this film-debate evening, the public will be able to interact with the team of the film “SHTTL”. Ady Walter, the director, will talk about this first feature film, the actor Antoine Millet will share his experience and Christophe Charlier, co-producer, who initiated the event, will also be present at the Lux cinema in La Châtre. The film was rewarded with numerous awards: Audience Award at the Rome International Film Festival; Audience Award at the Diasporama Festival or a selection at the BFI International London Film Festival.
This black and white film, produced in Yiddish, is filmed as a long sequence shot.
With Moshe Lobel, Saul Rubinek, Antoine Millet. Duration: 1 hour 54 minutes. Original version subtitled in French.
