In ReportsCécile Bois (Candice Renoir) embodies the role of Laurence Brunet-Jambu with strength and accuracy. An aunt who for years faced justice and child welfare near Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine) to rescue her niece Karine from the sexual and physical violence she suffered at her parents' house.
With finesse and a lot of emotion, director Eric Métayer ( The tickles ) points out the multiple dysfunctions of a failing system, which leaves children in the clutches of their tormentors for too long. A moving, revolting film, which nevertheless leaves room for hope. In an interview, Eric Métayer tells us about his commitment to this administrative fight which does not seem to be stopping any time soon.
Read also: Child abuse: Cécile Bois plays Laurence Brunet-Jambu in “Reportements”
Is it difficult to adapt a true story like this?
There were a lot of discussions with Laurence Brunet-Jambu about what she experienced. The only place where we imagined things in this story is in the couple's relationships. For the rest, I read his book, which is explicit, and I had the entire trial file in hand. We don't touch anything on that. On the contrary, I chose to remove a large part of this file, because it is unsustainable. I don't need to show a child being hit for example, we understand it differently in the image. I didn't want the audience to give up, otherwise they wouldn't hear the message.
What is it?
It took over 4,200 days before this child was “released.” We have been saying for a long time that we must free the victims' voices to speak. They are talking now. Now it is time to take concrete action. When we came out The ticklesthe Ciivise (Independent Commission on Incest and Sexual Violence against Children) was created a year later. Nothing has changed since then unfortunately. The victims cannot do more. The ball is in the court of justice.
And in that of the relatives who testify?
Yes. I also changed the gender of the professor who makes a report in the film. I had a man play him because I wanted there to be at least one positive male figure in this story. I wish there were many more men who got involved in these child protection fights. There are a few representatives of associations but on a daily basis, I note that it is above all women who raise the alarm and who fight.
You also show in the film that there are several forms of abuse…
I wanted there to be some sort of doubt at the beginning of the film. We tell ourselves that there are no bruises on the child, that there is no physical evidence, so maybe the aunt is doing too much… I want to make people understand that they have a doubt, it is better to speak and be wrong than to do nothing.
To have : VIDEO. Relive the meeting between Cécile Bois and Laurence Brunet-Jambu around “Reportements”
Does the child protection system still need to follow behind?
There are plenty of operating errors in the current system. We warn parents that their child has spoken at school, child welfare (ASE) warns parents that they have doubts before each of their visits… Everything needs to be reviewed. Today, we spend more time doubting what children say than checking what is happening in homes.
Would there have been Reports if there had not been Tickles ?
It was a subject that already interested me before realizing The tickles. But meeting Andréa Bescond impacted me even more. In The tickleswe were speaking from the victim's point of view. In Reports we denounce the failing system. Now I want to make a work that speaks from the pedophile's point of view. How can we get there? How can they act with impunity? How can we avoid it?
Does this topic of child abuse affect you personally?
One day, my partner at the time revealed to me that she had been raped. I was shocked but I didn't react at the time. The next day, I asked her if she wanted to talk about it. She replied: “Talk about what? I have never been raped.” That day I realized the strength and complexity of the trauma. From The ticklesmany people around me have also spoken out about what they suffered… Which makes me even more angry when I see the overall inaction on the subject. There are so many victims.
Read also: TESTIMONY. Karine, raped under the family roof by a friend of her parents
What do you think should be done to change that?
Lots of prevention at the early childhood level. In schools, at home. I come from a background of improvisation. I would love for it to be taught in middle and high schools because, in improv, we have to bring out emotions that are not written, not prepared and that often reveals a lot of things. With Andréa Bescond, we presented to the State a book that she had made, in which there were two drawings of naked children which concretely explained which part of the private parts were not allowed to be touched. We were told that it was out of the question to release this kind of thing. Someone in a high position also told me one day: “We are ready to do anything, as long as it doesn’t cost anything.” So the fight will still be long…
France 2 9:05 p.m., followed by a debate on child protection moderated by Carole Gaessler.
