“The facts are all real!” : José Bové's European fight against tobacco lobbies adapted for cinema

José Bové était à Sète, ce vendredi, pour présenter le film en avant-première. Midi Libre – NICOLAS ZARROUK

José Bové and director Antoine Raimbault chose Sète, Nîmes and Millau to present in preview the film "An affair of principle", based on one of the fights of the ;former MEP.

The film traces the fight you led, with others, against the tobacco lobby and its involvement in the dismissal of European Commissioner John Dalli . Is this fight still relevant??

More than ever! Firstly because we are in the middle of the European election campaign. Then because just Thursday, the European Union ombudsman once again sounded the alarm on the influence of the tobacco lobby with the European Commission. Pressure continues from those who want to make money going against the general interest. And that’s what the film is about.

In the middle of the European campaign, is there not a risk of discouraging voters?

On the contrary, and you also have to see the film to understand how the institution works. Brussels is where the power is. MPs can act and they did so during the Dalli affair. Democracy and transparency can move the lines, but for this to happen voters must mobilize. Especially since with integral proportional, every vote counts. Europe is a democratic construction which makes it possible to face global problems.

And yet Europe and its functioning remain poorly understood by citizens. Whose fault is it??

Firstly to the political forces, particularly in France. Let's say that it is fashionable, in the majority as in the opposition, to hit Brussels when something is not going well. This is an easy scapegoat! This demagoguery is maintained by the populists. We hear that Europe costs us dearly while European funding is everywhere in the territories. But often on the billboard, support from Europe is not highlighted. Perhaps the lack of knowledge of Europe also comes from the lack of media interest…

Becoming a character in a film, is it an easy thing to accept??

It was Robert Guédiguian, who is a long-time friend and fighting partner, who introduced me to Antoine (Raimbault, the director, Editor's note ) and his project. Of course it’s curious to see yourself portrayed on screen. Generally we do this when you are dead, and you don't have much opinion to give anymore. But I had complete confidence in Antoine’s work. The facts are all real and sourced, there was no ambiguity in the scenario. I also spoke a lot with Bouli Lanners, who plays my role. Although I have some reservations about the length of his mustache!

You are no longer an MEP, but you recently denounced the pressure from lobbies in the midst of an agricultural crisis. The fight continues ?

The anger of the farmers did not leave Occitanie by chance. In these territories we have farmers with paltry incomes, far from those who benefit from aid. The demonstrations started from the grassroots, and it’s legitimate. But we saw a vast recovery on the part of the FNSEA, and we saw things like the question of pesticides emerge in the demands. It’s absurd, it makes no sense, and we clearly have the impression that the lobbies are behind it.

José Bové and Antoine Raimbault were in Sète this Friday to present the film in preview. Midi Libre – NICOLAS ZARROUK

“We definitely didn't want a Manichean film”

After An intimate conviction (2019) on the Viguier affair, Antoine Raimbault attacks the authorities European and takes the viewer behind the scenes of Brussels, through a film"which dissects the John Dalli affair and which points out a certain number of dysfunctions in Europe, but which also carries optimism", warns the director. "We did everything to release the film during the European campaign, hoping to make spectators want to be interested & ;agrave; the European Union and go to vote. We wanted a film based on on real facts, and especially not Manichean." But how was born? the project ? "I was doing research on lobbies when I came across this project. on this affair and the role played by José Bové. We have often featured cops or journalists in the cinema, less often a character from a Euro MP. who is conducting the investigation!

"An affair of principle" by’Antoine Raimbault, with Bouli Lanners, Thomas VDB and Céleste Brunnquell, in theaters on May 1st. I subscribe to read more