France 2 is broadcasting the first episode of “Les Siffleurs” tonight, a fiction created by Nathalie Marchak, which addresses the issue of harassment through a breathless police investigation. Is the mini-series inspired by a true story?
France 2 broadcasts this Wednesday March 8 the first of Les Siffleurs, a fiction composed of 2 episodes of 90 minutes and written by Nathalie Marchak and Laurent Burtin (Astrid and Raphaëlle). Carried by Nadia Farès and Charles Berling, this series follows Marianne Kacem, a police officer in charge of investigating the strange disappearance of Lila, a young woman who posted selfies on social networks with the men who harassed her in the street.
She will therefore seek to find her as soon as possible, but how to find the culprit when all the men posted on the @lessiffleurs account are potential suspects?
Is the screenplay based on a true story?
If the story of The Whistlers is not directly inspired by a true story, Nathalie Marchak, the creator of the fiction, was nevertheless based on real facts in order to build her scenario. In a note of intent published on the France 2 website, the screenwriter and director explained that the opening scene of episode 1 refers to an attack she suffered when she was 19 years old.
“I was walking down the street when a car started to brake next to me”, she explained. “On board, there were three young passengers who had fun insulting me. They blocked my way, came out and pinned me against a wall. I was left stunned by fear. Literally speechless.”
Luckily, at that moment, a police car passed, scaring away his attackers. This is of course not the only assault she has had to suffer in her life, but, unlike the character of Lila, played by Ludmilla Makowski, she has never filed a complaint with the police.
By creating Les Siffleurs, Nathalie Marchak had in mind to highlight the new generation of young women who are trying to change the system. The story of the series is also inspired by real events.
“A young woman posted selfies with the men who harassed her on the street. I found his approach very courageous”, she explained. “I found his approach very courageous. I wondered about the risks taken to publicly denounce his harassers, as well as the consequences of this media exposure for these men.
“What if she disappeared after posting these photos? What if each of the harassers became a suspect?” It is on this starting point that Nathalie Marchak based the starting point of Les Siffleurs.
Find the first part of Les Siffleurs this Wednesday, March 8 from 9:10 p.m. on France 2. The second episode will be broadcast the following Wednesday.