“Fortunately, you are here”: when suicide prevention associations take over the cinema

Une trentaine de personnes assiste à la diffusion du film choc MIDI LIBRE – GUILLAUME CROS

Association representatives intervened during the screening of the film "Débâcle", on Tuesday March 5 at Comoedia in Sète, to raise public awareness of the trauma linked to sexual violence.

Microphone in hand, Jean-Nöel Pintard, president of the SOS Amitié Montpellier Languedoc association, introduces the film of this evening of Tuesday March 5. Debacle, directed by the Belgian Veerle Baetens and not recommended for children under 12, may shock spectators. The proof: representatives of the France Dépression and France Victimes 34 associations are also in the Le Comoedia cinema, in Sète. They support people who are victims of trauma, depression and prone to suicidal thoughts.

The 1 hour 51 minute session begins, with around thirty spectators. The film features Eva, a young adult with a tortured mind. When a special ceremony is announced, she returns to her native village to meet her two childhood friends, who raped her at the age of 12. This return to childhood makes her recall dark memories: absent parents, precarious conditions, children's games that get out of control… After revealing the atrocious event for the first time in front of the inhabitants, Eva puts an end to it. to his days in the butchery of the mother of one of the rapists. 

Delicate taboos

The credits roll and the room lights up again. The members of the three associations offer a debate to the public on their perception of the feature film. A mother of two teenagers reacts: "We feel helpless. It's hard to speak during adolescence." Many spectators confide that they are helpless in the face of society " became more and more violent". "The goal is to talk. Speaking allows us to find solutions, answers Jean-Noël Pintard. According to him, France records around 8,500 suicides and 200,000 attempts per year. 

The taboos of rape and sexual assault are delicate to discuss. Representatives say victims take several decades before revealing this trauma. "These people confide in associations first rather than in their loved ones", specifies the president of SOS Amitié. They would have an easier time sharing their troubles with "strangers" since'they "wouldn't feel like they were disturbing their loved ones once again". Each representative emphasizes that the ;listening is an essential factor in these situations to support people in need.

A first test for a French film

"The setup was interesting, but I was disappointed that there weren'many people there", regrets Michel, a spectator. It should be noted that the cinema hall was not very full, knowing that among the thirty spectators, several were members of the associations. Ultimately, there are few non-aware people to inform. But to put it into perspective, because Débâcle is the first film in France to benefit from this preventive support on a large scale. Will this initiative germinating in the den of cinema continue ?

A device under experiment

This is the first time in France that a film distributor has solicited the action of associations specializing in suicide prevention on a large scale. A stand is set up at the entrance to the room, so that spectators can interact with volunteers. "Several came to see us after the debate", says Jean-Noël Pintard. At the exit, some people thank the members of the associations. "Luckily, you're here", blurts a woman. Others are still in shock. Two spectators admit that the film, in theaters since February 28, traumatized them and preferred to leave the cinema.

This accompaniment is not obligatory for each screening. The Comoedia hosted this system for the first time. "We are curious about the feedback", declares Raphaël Vion, director of the Sétois cinema. On the associative side, SOS Amitié notes a growing demand from film distributors to repeat this initiative. Jean-Noël Pintard assures him: "During our interventions, people perceive the necessity of our action."

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