Abbé Pierre, a life of struggle: A moving tribute

ABBE PIERRE - A CENTURY OF DEVOTION
Theatrical release: November 8, 2023
Duration: 2h18
Director: Frédéric Tellier
Main actors: Benjamin Lavernhe, Emmanuelle Bercot, Michel Vuillermoz
Synopsis: Born into a wealthy family, Henri Grouès was both a resistance fighter, a deputy, a defender of the homeless, a revolutionary and an iconoclast, which earned him international fame. The creation of Emmaüs and the tidal wave of his unforgettable appeal in the winter of 54 made him an icon. Revolted by poverty and injustice, often criticized, sometimes betrayed, Henri Grouès had a thousand lives and fought a thousand battles. He left his mark on History under the name he chose for himself: Abbé Pierre.

No one can ignore – especially in France – the impact of Henri Grouès, better known as Abbé Pierre, on French history. No one can forget him because he is the one who will create Emmaus with Lucie Coutaz, after having fought tooth and nail to have the necessary resources to accommodate the homeless during the winter of 1954. One of the deadliest winters, because for 3 weeks, the temperature will be harsh with a feeling of -30°. This extremely empathetic man was never satisfied with what he accomplished.

Abbé Pierre: A life of struggle tells the life of this man of the church from the time he had to leave the Capuchins until his death in 2012. It is therefore his entire life which is retraced in 2h18.

I saw the film for the second time, to my great delight. I hadn't seen the first biopic released in 1989, with Lambert Wilson in the title role. . But according to the trailer forHiver 54, l'abbé Pierre, I can only say one thing: Benjamin Lavernhe's acting performance is absolutely magnificent and far surpasses the acting of Lambert Wilson who struggles to be charismatic.

Benjamin Lavernhe is an actor that I first discovered in The Sense of Wonder and which had already surprised me in its time. This film, in which he starred alongside Virginie Efira, dealt with Asperger's syndrome.

As for the Frederic Tellier biopic, the acting direction and makeup add authenticity to the main character to the point that we no longer see the actor behind the mask. The tone of voice, gestures and gait are illusions for the viewer.

In terms of photography, nothing stands out and each shot is chosen for a good reason. the film has a contemplative dimension: the camera stares at certain objects and settings for several seconds in silence as if time were suspended. It is throughout the film that we will be able to observe this process which does not weigh him down in any way, but on the contrary will allow us to take a break from the struggles of this man of the church. Moreover, the first shot of the film tells us where the feature film is going to take us: We see a very beautiful starry night, with a mountain in the background on which a man stands and looks into the distance. The moon barely lights his face and a well-known voice-over tells us about Abbé Pierre's concerns. This magnificent scene – as well as the last shot of the film – is filmed in a graceful and peaceful manner. The quality of the staging makes us feel the director's fascination with his main character, played by Benjamin Lavernhe who plays him masterfully.

All these positive remarks lead me to think that French cinema is far from having said its last word and that certain directors know how to take risks, while certain American blockbusters fail to reinvent themselves.

In short, Frederic Tellier's film is for me a vibrant tribute to its main actor who surpasses himself.