Alcohol, gambling, sugar… the open-hearted addiction told in the documentary series “Tomorrow, I Quit!”

We're all addicted. For the dancer Marie-Agnès Gillot, it's cigarettes, the game for the actor Philippe Lellouche… In the documentary series broadcast on Canal+ Docs, addiction is described by those who suffer from it. And who take care of themselves.

«En France, alcohol is a way of life. Everyone drinks, but no one is an alcoholic. » The writer and journalist Christophe Tison admits to having been. He hasn't drunk for nineteen years, supported by peer support groups, these therapies where each participant recognizes themselves in their neighbor's story because they are going through the same ordeal. Removing the mask in front of a camera is another. All the more difficult since the first instinct is to hide one's addiction. Sometimes even to deny it.

However, this is the proposal that producer Alexandre Amiel made to the writer by entrusting him with the writing of the episode of Tomorrow, I stop! devoted to alcohol. Three other personalities were approached, all of whom embody a different addiction: cigarettes for star dancer Marie-Agnès Gillot; the game for actor and director Philippe Lellouche; sugar for the actress Énora Malagré. This four-part documentary series (1) skillfully combines the sincerity of the testimony and the solidity of the information. Each of the personalities investigates their addiction and also confides their doubts and their failures.

Exposing your vulnerability is not easy. Christophe Tison and Marie-Agnès Gillot do it without false modesty, giving a lot of strength to their films. Conversely, Philippe Lellouche almost despite himself demonstrates what denial is, punctuating his sequences with a “I understand what compulsive gamblers go through, but I’m not like that! ». simpering sound “little weakling” for sweets, host Énora Malagré lets her friend Elsa Wolinski declare “I fell into sugar when I stopped using cocaine”, hinting at what other addiction this film could have carried — even if sugar addiction alone is a public health issue.

“We are all addicted to something, pleads producer Alexandre Amiel. Saying it is cathartic. I wanted these investigations to be embodied to avoid the coldly analytical or moralizing effect. Addictions help us to live and yet they are destructive. By mixing the intimate and the information, we can more easily understand the phenomena. » Guilt and shame are overcome to place addictions in the realm of pathologies that can be cured. As long as you face them.

This statement is timely. In companies, pots where alcohol flowed freely are becoming rare. Smokers no longer carelessly throw their cigarette butts anywhere. “I did this for a long timerecognizes star dancer Marie-Agnès Gillot. I threw my butt on the floor because I needed that last drag just before going on stage. » She started at 18, not to contain her appetite, but to control her stress. “It’s very hidden in the world of high-level athletes, and yet many smoke! » she assures. In his case, two packets daily. “ I am surprised myself to have so much mental strength in my life as an athlete and so little to stop smoking…” At 50, this is now his wish. Since the filming of Tomorrow, I stop!she now only smokes five cigarettes a day. Behind the scenes most often, but sometimes even, like in his last show (For Gods Only), on stage!

Tomorrow, I stop! Wednesday 9:00 p.m. Canal+ Docs