No french tv channel could have produced “Game of Thrones” (up to 15 million dollars per episode). But with only a tenth of this amount, Canal+ nevertheless manages to craft little gems such as “Baron Noir”, “The Bureau” or, lately, “Paris Police 1900”.
Powerfully universalist, series have the innate capacity to unite us all throughout the globe. This is even more true since the advent of online streaming platforms. A stimulating frenzy. Given the size of the wave, the french series could’ve as easily sunk. However, a bit of dusting paid off. “Lupin”, produced by Gaumont for Netflix, has crossed the 70 million views mark in a few weeks, besting “The Queen’s Gambit” and “La Casa de Papel”.
No french tv channel could have produced “Game of Thrones” (up to 15 million dollars per episode). But with only a tenth of this amount, Canal+ nevertheless manages to craft little gems such as “Baron Noir”, “The Bureau” or, lately, “Paris Police 1900”. A noir plunge into Belle Epoque Paris, its antisemitic leagues, its blackmailers and butchers. Provided they do not identify with the police’s opposition, the young generation will realize the historical violence of anti-Jewish racism in this country. So many 2.0 hate mongers take directly from the Guérin brothers and Édouard Drumont. This young generation may understand that male screenwriters can give life to powerful female characters, like Jeanne Chauvin, one of the first female lawyers.
PASSING DOWN HISTORY
Passing down history is always a challenge for the public service. Historical series are expensive, both in costuming and set construction, the cost often prohibiting a direction able to grab the young public’s attention. In “Les Aventures du jeune Voltaire” was found a great formula, by following the little known youth of the literary hero of the right to blasphemy. A spirited, lively Voltaire we wish to see carry on the adventure for one more season, to reach defending Calas the Chevalier de La Barre. Just to remind the Unef that the freedom to criticize fanaticism protects equality.
From Arte, “En thérapie” has succeeded in making the most of an almost single and bare set, a psychoanalyst’s consulting room, to offer us therapy on the scale of a nation on the topics of terrorist attacks and the human condition. Its 35 episodes owe a lot to their two fathers, Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, who pursue their work of national reconciliation with the brightness they are known for. And of course to the scenarists, who carved out dialogues of a depth rarely seen.Adel Chibane’s character, a cop haunted by the Bataclan’s tragedy and the slaughter of his family in Algeria, is a tribute to republican mixing. So tough luck if the Islamo-complacents of Orient XXI find him “deprived of psyche” and “neoconservative” because he can’t stand “cushy penpushers” like them. Far from the exhibitions, on the sofa, he’s the one to move us. In unison with all those who suffered through the attacks.
CAROLINE FOUREST 