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On the occasion of the release of her film Les Engagés in France, Émilie Frèche has been invited to Villa Medici to present her work, between writing and cinema. The special screening of Les Engagés will be preceded by a reading from some of her works, including Io ti salverò (2018) and Chouquette (2017), novels translated into Italian.
For her first feature film, the French writer and director sets her camera on the few kilometres separating Italy and France, witness to ever-increasing migration. She describes her film as follows: ‘It’s a film about commitment, about our capacity to want and be able to change things, and to make the world a better place. It’s also a film about disobeying the law and how ordinary people, by staying true to their values, become heroes.’
This place of passage is the focus of many tensions between the exiles, the police, the activists and the ordinary residents, who are sometimes unwillingly involved in this struggle. A place where solidarity often rhymes with criminality.
Synopsis:
On the road to Briançon, David’s car collides with a young exile being pursued by the police. Following his instinct, David hides him in his boot and takes him back to his partner Gabrielle, who lives with her two children. Moved by the teenager’s fate, David undertakes to help him whatever the cost.
2022, France, 98min
Starring : Benjamin Lavernhe, Julia Piaton, Bruno Todeschini
Producer: Chapka Films
Emilie Frèche
Author of novels, screenplays and plays, Emilie Frèche is also a film director. Her latest novel, Les amants du Lutetia, was shortlisted for the Goncourt 2023. She has published 2 texts dedicated to Samuel Paty and covered the trial of this attack for Le Point, which took place last autumn. She is currently working on a book about the trial, to be published in October 2025.
Practical information
Wednesday 7 December, 7.30pm
Salle de cinéma Michel Piccoli, Villa Médicis
Free: booking essential
Language: French OV, English ST
Émilie Frèche’s books will be on sale thanks to Librairie Stendhal, which will be present at the event.
