Louise Bernard, with Alexis Patri
France 3 broadcasts the documentary “Romy, free woman” on Friday evening. Unveiled this week in Cannes, the film chooses to tell the career and the life of the mythical actress Romy Schneider from the angle of her character as a free and independent woman, rather than that a thousand times rehashed from the dramas of her life.
It was presented at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday evening and the general public can discover it from Friday evening on France 3: the public channel broadcasts the documentary at 9:10 p.m. Romy, free woman. The film offers a portrait of the iconic actress Romy Schneider, who died 40 years ago. This portrait has an original, even unexpected subject, very rarely discussed: Romy Schneider was a strong and independent woman. A bias contrary to the image that we often give of her, that of a victim of drama.
The word given to Romy Schneider, rather than to her relatives and her biographers
Admittedly, these personal dramas exist and there is no question in this film of ignoring them. But many elements of Romy Schneider’s life show the determined woman she was. In particular her way of convincing the directors to entrust her with certain roles that she absolutely wanted. Just like her incredible modernity, when she left everything to come to Paris for Alain Delon. But also when she paid for the divorce of the future father of her son in order to be able to live with him.
To tell the actress from this unique angle, the authors have chosen not to use interviews with personalities who analyze Romy Schneider, as we often see in documentaries. They preferred to give the floor to the actress herself and let her tell her story through the archives. The whole thing is interspersed with excerpts from his films.
Romy, free woman, the documentary signed by Lucie Cariès and Clémentine Deroudille, is broadcast Friday evening at 9:10 p.m. on France 3.