“They are courageous, faithful, hardworking and have respect for others.” “They are also happy and don’t complain.” Here are the first words of a documentary broadcast this evening on France 3 and which pays tribute to the “Gens du Nord”.
The program is classic in form with testimonies and archives, very beautiful archives, all extremely well told by the actress Valérie Bonneton, originally from the Nord department.
The film thus tells of a land of contrasts since the 19th century. A look at the architectural beauty of this region and the slag heaps which have forever marked the geography of this place.
Above all, the story of an industrial epic and its disillusionments. And always, stories of women and men, from generation to generation like Gervais Martel, businessman for a long time president of the Lens football club, and son of a miner or the actress Corinne Masiero who never ceases to proclaim her love for the Northern department where she was born.
A visceral attachment
The moving testimonies, particularly from the workers, show how visceral the attachment to this land is. Personal stories which illustrate the history of the region and its importance in the great history of France.
It is thus a question of coal, cotton, steel, social achievements, but also of social plans, layoffs and a corner of the country that is difficult to leave.
While one in 2 French people live in the region where they grew up, 9 out of 10 live in Nord-Pas-de-Calais!
In this epic, the Corons left their mark on the minds and urban geography. The archives on this point are astonishing. Industrial districts seem to come back to life before our eyes. These Corons that we sing at festivals, carnivals and in the stands of the Lens stadium… “The Corons are the miners. It’s this force. This song which magnifies everything and makes things almost indestructible” says a regular at the football club. While the supporters sing Pierre Bachelet’s title in honor of their team, in front of the Bollaert stadium, a man has not left his chip shop since… 1976. Jean-Paul Dambrine explains: “I have never seen a match in my life, he said. Otherwise, people, they will leave the match and there will be no more fries. What will they say to them “oh, I went? see the match”… ” he said before concluding his sentence with a huge burst of laughter.
Thank you who? Thank you North!
Why wouldn’t Sunday rest exist without the people of the North?
Why is the aviator Louis Blériot linked to the invention of the sand yacht?
Who is the Marcel Pagnol of the North?
Answers thanks to this large fresco created by Jean-François Delassus and Cécile Coolen. The documentary The people of the north is broadcast this Wednesday, October 2, on France 3 from 9:05 p.m.
Boomerang Listen later
Lecture listen 32 min
