This Tuesday, October 8, the first two episodes of the docu-fiction series Our history of France are broadcast on France 2. A dive into History, through its great figures, told by Tomer Sisley and to which West France was able to take part. We tell you everything about our day of discovery at the heart of Clovis life.
It’s barely 9 a.m. on this sunny June morning and the Aubechies archaeosite park, in Beloeil (Belgium), is already bustling with activity. Today, this historical reconstruction site is transformed into a real medieval scene. Under the surprised eyes of the few visitors who have come to discover the evolution of human life since Prehistory, men in chain mail, helmets on their heads and swords in their hands, come to life in front of a Gallo-Roman temple.
Without the cameras, sound booms and light reflectors, it would feel like the Ve century, under the Gaul of Clovis Iis founder of the Merovingian dynasty. In any case, this is the wish of France Télévisions, which is filming its docu-fiction series Our history of Francethe first two episodes of which are broadcast this Tuesday, October 8 on France 2.
” Silence ! And action! » Clovis enters the scene, facing his vassals, all in line and with their heads erect. He stops in front of one of them and gives him a (fake) punch. The man falls to the ground. “Cut!” »
Between each shot, the animation resumes. Lucile Auclair, dresser, focuses on Clovis’ cape. “When you lean forwardshe slips to the actor, I feel the cape slipping off your shoulders. » Fortunately, the bag around his waist is well stocked: scissors, scraps of fabric, cutters and pliers of all kinds will do the trick. “As soon as a character arrives in a sceneexplains the young woman, We have to know who he is just by looking at his clothes. »
Sets and costumes to be faithful to the story
And Our history of France based on a documentary part narrated by the actor Tomer Sisley and detailed by recognized historians, the fiction is just as important. “We choose the sets and costumes to be as faithful as possible to the story, says Damien Piscarel, deputy director of programs at ITV Studios, the production company of the series. The more we rely on fiction, the more precise we must be in accessorizing. »
And that’s not Margo, the head costume designer, who will tell us otherwise. In his workshop, a real medieval dressing room, there are numerous period dresses, skirts, belts, jewelry and moccasins. Now it’s our turn to become an actor for a day. Exceptionally, we slip into the shoes of a woman from the court of Clovis Iis. First step: exit the bell-bottom jeans, the cotton vest and the Converse, make way for the moccasins, the canvas dress and the veil on the hair.
Read also: INTERVIEW. Tomer Sisley in “Our History of France”: “I am a time traveler”
“At that time, everything was very natural”
“We ask a lot of technical questions to the historians with whom we work for the series, they have more precise information on military, religious and civilian clothing”explains Margo, analyzing the dozens of dresses and rags on hangers in turn. For us, it will be green, almost khaki, and a touch of burgundy. Colors which, according to the costume designer, “goes very well with short brown hair”. She adds a belt of golden links around our waist, but “as the dress is already very decorated, we are not going to wear jewelry”. Ready!
We leave Margo to briefly settle into makeup and hair. “At that time, in Europe, everything was very natural, explains Chloé, makeup artist. Hair was often down, there was no bun or braid. » Result: a little foundation, taupe-colored pencil along the eyelashes and a light touch of blush to pinken the cheeks.
After the meal (in period costumes, yes), head to the filming location, a sort of courtyard covered with a cottage roof. Clovis, 15 years old, has his throne there. It was at this age that he succeeded his father Childeric and became king of a small kingdom in northern Gaul. The director of this second episode of Our history of FranceCaroline Benarrosh, addresses the extras: “You will pay your respects to the king by kneeling on the ground. In exchange, he will give you each a gift, because at the time, you have to buy your customers. »
For us, Caroline Benarrosh has another idea: “I need someone sewing, making two stitches on Clovis’s cape, then moving around to put it on his shoulders. » Mission accepted. After three hours of filming, around a hundred shots from different angles and around ten repetitions of the same movement, the scene was finished. In the episode, broadcast this Tuesday evening at 10 p.m., it will finally last… one minute and a half.
Read also: France 2 returns to the historical soap opera thanks to the series “Fortune de France”, this Monday
Extras used to filming
After a short pause, a second banquet scene awaits us. Among the extras, some seem accustomed to such filming. Robin, a soldier, is part of a historical reenactment group based in Belgium. “We do mediation in schools, we talk about the daily life of an era, the struggles, the different professions…he explains. And we also intervene in filming. We bring a historical dimension, because we learn a lot by reading, talking with historians, and going to exhibitions. We are real enthusiasts. »
For this scene, which traces the destruction of the Soissons vase, we will only appear in the background, as a customer of a jewelry seller. Two hours of filming are still necessary. At 7 p.m., fatigue can be seen on faces, the sun begins to set and the temperature has dropped. “Cut!” And that’s it for today, thank you everyone! »concludes Caroline Benarrosh. All that remains is to put on our jeans, our vests and our sneakers to return to our XXIe century.
