On the occasion of a continuous evening for the International Day of the Rights of the Child, France 2 broadcasts this evening, Wednesday November 20, Reports (our opinion). Cécile Bois, Odile Vuillemin and Bruno Solo, under the direction of Éric Métayer, are starring in this fiction which is the eponymous adaptation of the testimonial book by Karine and Laurence Brunet-Jambu, published by Éditions du Livre de Poche. Laurence Brunet-Guava returns for us to his painful story and his fight against childhood abuse.
Report: “I took a nasty hit!“Laurence Jambu remembers her emotion when she discovered the fiction adapted from her story
Télé-Loisirs: You testified in a book, today, your story has been adapted into a series. How did you react when you were offered this project?
Laurence Brunet-Guava : My first reaction was the fear of knowing if the fiction would be as close as possible to reality. We agreed to an adaptation when our book was published, we had no choice, it was part of the contract. Until I read the script, I feared that Karine would be lost in the story. And then I read it and found it remarkable.
Did you know straight away which actresses were going to play you?
No, it took time for the project to come together. I received a first script in 2022, then a second in 2023. That's when I knew that Éric Metayer was going to direct. He was the one who told me about the casting and when I found out the names of the actresses, I jumped for joy! For me, Cécile Bois is Candice Renoir et Odile Vuillemin is Profiling. These are actresses that I adore. With Bruno Solo, we were already in contact. He's someone I respect a lot. That reassured me, I knew that this fiction was going to be done with modesty.
You were able to go to the set, wasn't it too hard to relive the past?
I took a nasty hit! I felt bad because it was so well done that it took me back and brought up a lot of pain. It was painful to think back on certain moments. At the time, for example, when I learned that Karine was placed, I fell to my knees and howled to death, like a wolf… I screamed so loudly that afterwards I couldn't anymore. to say a single word. I was no longer able to do anything. I admit that that day, I had dark thoughts, very very dark ones.
How were you able to preserve yourself?
I immersed myself fully in the project. I have been asked a lot and I have responded to all requests. I wanted this TV movie to correspond to what we had experienced, even if it is not reality. We suffered so much. We can't imagine what it's like to know that a little girl is being raped in her parents' home and that there's nothing we can do. It is this feeling of helplessness that is unbearable. No one can imagine this pain. It's horrible. I had nightmares for entire nights, and insomnia while pacing around the house. All these mothers who try to defend their children, I know what they are going through!
When did you first discover fiction?
We saw her together with Karine and the TV film team at the Vierzon festival. I loved seeing him with the audience. We discover the public's feelings, it's extraordinary. There was a lot of emotion. When I saw the fiction, there were times when I cried because in certain scenes, it wasn't Cécile that I saw, it was me. She played me so well that it was unsettling.
Were you able to tell him what you wanted to tell him?
Oh yes! We saw each other again the day before yesterday and she knows what I'm thinking. I don't know what impact this fiction will have on his life, but I think it will leave its mark. She knows that this TV movie had a message, and she carried it. All the actors, when we met them, came to tell us that they were there to carry our voice. There is nothing more beautiful! These are magical moments in life. For me, this fiction is a message of hope. We all have a backpack to carry and I tried to make Karine's as light as possible. What we want to demonstrate, Karine and I, is that it is possible to get through it! We need to change things!
Report: “At social services everyone called me the witch“Laurence Jambu looks back on his long fight to save his niece who was the victim of abuse
What are you waiting for after the release of this fiction?
I sincerely think that this TV movie can help people. What I'm most waiting for is for justice to ask Karine for forgiveness. I think about it every day. No one has ever asked her for forgiveness and she deserves it. I received an apology from the attorney general during the trial. He looked at me, he had tears in his eyes, I expected as usual to be lynched. And he actually apologized. It was like honey! But I have this anger inside me to see that things could have been avoided. Child welfare is going badly and, I say it loud and clear, we are not protecting children! It is a subject that remains taboo. I think no one wants to hear because we are all collectively responsible. Families don't necessarily want to talk, nor do social services. It is through books and television that we can move the lines and encourage free speech.
How did you cope at the time?
Thanks to my faith, my children, my husband and the thought of this little girl who depended on me. Maybe as a child, she didn't realize the fight we had to go through to get her out of there. Karine haunted my days and nights. When we were on our way to the set, she said to me: “I didn't think you suffered so much for me.” I think she realized with the book and this TV movie that I never abandoned her. At social services, everyone called me the witch. And I think that at times, Karine may have felt abandoned. But she always knew I loved her. One day I did a book signing and people were crying. It shocked me because I didn't think our story was going to resonate so much. It's terribly upsetting, but it feels good too. It's reassuring, it means that the message has gotten through.
I guess you can't heal from this kind of trauma. But today, how are you both?
We're fine. It's certain that we don't cure it, we live with it. There are inevitably times that are more difficult than others… But I'm okay because I know that I'm going to save other children. I am one of the abused children. I was also abused and I really wish someone would do something for me. I knew what Karine was going through, because I had experienced it too. The fight continues! I know that I am moving forward and that there are good things that will happen. I have no doubt about it. I kept faith in humanity.
Laurence Brunet is president of the Alexis Danan Association which helps victims of abuse: https://alexisdanan.org/.
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