The conclusion of the plot on the death of Sylvie, who died accidentally by an owl, did not fail to amuse the fans of “Un Si Grand Soleil”. But did you know that this story is inspired by a real news item?
The resolution of the plot devoted to Guilhem (Manuel Blanc), who was accused of having murdered his wife to inherit his fortune, did not only surprise the fans of Un Si Grand Soleil.
Last week, viewers of France 2 indeed discovered that the death of Sylvie Magne (Olivia Brunaux) was in fact accidental. And that Marion’s aunt had actually struggled with an owl that had entered her property and attacked her. Scratching her several times before knocking her down the stairs.
This revelation, quite astonishing, did not fail to amuse the fans of Un Si Grand Soleil. But also the actors themselves, as Manuel Blanc told us a few days ago in Montpellier, on the set of the soap opera.
“At the very beginning, I did not know the purpose of the plot, because I discover the texts as I go along, I only read what I need to shoot”told us the actor on the conclusion of this very strong arch centered on Guilhem and on the revelation of the owl. “And when I learned that it was an owl, it’s true that it made you smile at the time, it made you laugh”.
But what viewers surely don’t know is that this ark devoted to Sylvie’s death is actually inspired by a true story that made headlines in the United States and has already been the subject of several documentaries and works by fiction.
“I was surprised like everyone else, but then the production told us that it was taken from a news item, from a story that had happened in the United States”told us Manuel Blanc. “It’s a case that was much more complicated, because the person was suspected for a long time. All that because of an owl (laughs). Knowing that it’s inspired by a true story, that changes completely the point of view on this plot. We realize that, even if it seems far-fetched, it is likely in fact. It can happen”.
Screenshot/FTV
When Un Si Grand Soleil winks at The Staircase
The case to which our microphone Manuel Blanc refers is none other than that of Michael Peterson, an author of detective novels accused of having killed his wife Kathleen, after her lifeless body was discovered at the foot of their staircase.
The death of Kathleen Peterson was the starting point of a legal battle which lasted sixteen years and which was notably told in 2004 in the documentary series Suspicions (The Staircase) by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade. Then this year in the series The Staircase, with Colin Firth and Toni Collette, which returns in the form of fiction to the trial of Michael Peterson and the filming of the documentary by de Lestade.
And if you’re wondering what the connection is between the Peterson case and the owl in Un Si Grand Soleil, know that many theories exist as to the causes of Kathleen Peterson’s death. And that the craziest of them maintains that she was attacked by an owl on her way home.
Indeed, the victim had microscopic feathers and shards of tree bark in her left hand when she was found. Experts and scientists supported this theory but, because of the hasty conclusions of the police at the time of the tragedy, it could never be proven.
The authors of Un Si Grand Soleil have in any case shown good timing for this narrative ark since The Staircase, broadcast last October on Canal+, was one of the events of this end of the serial year.