How deep can we delve into horror? For nine years, the Védrines family was confronted with the question. Partly unconsciously: the aristocratic and Protestant clan found itself under the influence of the guru Thierry Tilly. But also partly consciously: relations within the family were marked by betrayal and fierce competition between heirs.
It all began in 1999, in the corridors of the Femme Stratégie vocational school, in Paris. Responsible for maintaining the premises through one of his companies, Thierry Tilly met Ghislaine de Védrines, then director. Their relationship, initially professional, consolidates. They end up becoming friends. The trap is tightening. Eternally ostracized from the clan because she is considered too independent, Ghislaine de Védrines is vulnerable.
The scammer takes advantage of this loophole and imposes himself on the family. The Védrines fall under his spell, squander their financial and real estate assets, plunge into paranoia, lock themselves in their home in Talade, England. By tracing the thread of this story, documentary filmmaker Sandrine Cohen helps us understand the workings of this affair, between fascination and astonishment.
© 2002 Calt production/federation studios
What made you want to work on the fate of the “Monflanquin recluses”?
News stories tell us a lot about the state of society. I was interested in this story when it came to light, with the trial of Thierry Tilly in 2012. Then, I forgot it, like many of us. It was my producer, Laetitia, who came up with the idea of doing something with it. I answered him : “Okay, but I have to start from the very beginning of the investigation. » On the other hand, I knew what I wanted to do with it: talk about influence. The story of the Védrines family is an incredible way to approach this subject which has haunted me for many years.
