Louise Bernard, with Alexis Patri
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11:26 a.m., May 11, 2022
Two after the publication of her testimonial book “Un si long silence”, skater Sarah Abitbol testifies again to the rapes suffered by her trainer during her adolescence, in a documentary of the same name which is broadcast Wednesday evening on France 2. Journalist Emmanuelle Aniron, who co-authored Sarah Abitbol’s book, explains why the athlete is testifying again.
It is a documentary as poignant as it is essential. France 2 broadcasts Wednesday evening Such a long silence, adapted from the eponymous book by Sarah Abitbol. The figure skating champion had revealed that she had been raped for two years by her coach, between her 15 and her 17 years. His testimony had caused a media tidal wave and denounced a system. Sarah Abitbol wrote this book with Emmanuelle Aniron, senior reporter at The Obs, who is also making this documentary. The two women received about fifteen proposals to adapt their book into a documentary or a film. They chose this format because it made the most sense to them.
“Sarah herself spoke after seeing a documentary film, that of Flavie Flament, who spoke of the attacks she had suffered from photographer David Hamilton”, recalls Emmanuelle Aniron at the microphone of Europe 1. “The image reaches a different audience than the book, and we wanted to extend this speaking out, to make it stronger. The idea of public service was also quite obvious. We are also lucky that the film is broadcast in prime time, that’s exactly what we wanted: to reach the widest and most family-friendly audience possible. We know that seeing a documentary like this can allow other people to speak out.”
A trauma still alive for Sarah Abitbol
The documentary mixes archives and very touching testimonies of his relatives. His former ice companion, Stéphane Bernardis testifies for the first time, upset after reading the book. Sarah Abitbol retraces her entire journey and recounts her trauma. And even if it was she who wanted to make this documentary, testifying is still difficult today.
“It’s paradoxical: this media exposure carries her, because the most important thing for a victim who speaks is to be listened to. Sarah was extraordinarily listened to. But at the same time, like all victims, when Sarah speaks, she physically relives his trauma”, explains Emmanuelle Aniron. “The body remembers and re-manifests itself each time in its pain. When we started to tackle the most difficult part, Sarah began to have nightmares again at night, to have the body which burns, headaches … Not to be well at all.”
The documentary Such a long silence is broadcast Wednesday evening at 9:05 p.m. on France 2, directed by Emmanuelle Anizon and Rémy Burkel with Sarah Abitbol.