On the occasion of Pink October, breast cancer screening awareness month, M6 is mobilizing by broadcasting “Le Souffle du dragon” this evening. What is the TV movie with Julie de Bona and Julie Gayet worth?
WHAT IS IT ABOUT ?
In Reims, a group of women meet every week aboard a strange boat with the head of a dragon. Sandrine, Rose-Marie, Poups and Fanny do not know each other but they all have in common to have fought against breast cancer. On the advice of their oncologist, Doctor Cuvelier, they will row to prevent recurrence, to rebuild themselves physically and morally, but also to exorcise this fear that lives in them.
Tuesday October 11, 2022 at 9:10 p.m. on M6 and already available on Salto!
WHO IS IT WITH?
Written by Clement Kochwho in 2016 received the Grand Prix Sopadin for best screenwriter for this story, dragon’s breath is made by Stephanie Pillonca.
To embody the Dragon Ladies at the heart of this story, the production called upon Julie de Bona (Learn to love yourself, The fighters) and Julie Gayet (A perfect mother) as well as other faces well known to the French public. Among the main roles we find indeed Firmine Richard (eight women), Lola Dewaere (Astrid and Raphaelle), Berengere Krief (E-syndrome) or Annie Gregorio (Learn to love yourself, More beautiful life).
Laurence Stone (The code), Francois Berleand (Sat), Arie Elmaleh (The mystery of the lake) and Amaury de Crayencour (Lies) complete this beautiful cast.
And to give more authenticity to her film, Stéphanie Pillonca also called on three real Dragon Ladies: Claire FiaschiGribouille Sorton and Sylviane Juskewycz.
WELL WORTH A LOOK ?
“We took a bomb in the mouth. And this fear that has settled in us that we now have to live with, propelled us through life. We ordinary princesses who, armed with a simple wooden sword, are going to slay the dragon.”.
It is with these few words spoken by the character played by Julie de Bona that Le souffle du dragon opens. A powerful phrase that aptly sums up Stéphanie Pillonca’s film.
In France, breast cancer unfortunately kills more than 12,000 women every year. If the theme therefore does not lend itself to lightness, Stéphanie Pillonca nevertheless succeeds in the bet of proposing a luminous and solar angle on the disease.
Nothing predestined Sandrine, Fanny, Rose-Marie, Poups and Françoise to meet. But lo and behold, cancer has burst into their lives. Admittedly, they survived it, but the fight is not over for all that. To rebuild themselves and exorcise this fear that now lives in them, these women will then throw themselves headlong into Dragon Boat, a therapeutic sporting discipline. By paddling aboard this dragon-headed boat, they will get to know each other, help each other, love each other and will live an exceptional adventure that will change their lives forever.
On a daily basis, these women from very different generations and social backgrounds experience very different things. Moreover, this is indeed one of the strengths of Dragon’s Breath to also transport us into their intimacies. From the one who will have to accept that she is in remission to the one who hides her illness from her husband or even the one who is going to have a breast removed, there are several destinies that are given to us to see. Despite everything, the Dragon Boat will be the link that will allow them to connect to each other, to life but above all to itself.
This choral film side could have led to many pitfalls but Stéphanie Pillonca manages to highlight the least of her characters with luminosity, benevolence and humor.
To give life to these everyday warriors, Julie de Bona, Julie Gayet, Firmine Richard, Lola Dewaere, Bérengère Krief and Annie Gergorio give of themselves. Sparkling and fair, they deliver successful performances, moving from comedy to emotion without frills. And the result is there ! We believe in their friendship, their complicity, their solidarity and their fight.
Addressing cancer without filters or taboos, the film nevertheless uses humor and lightness as if to better highlight the reality experienced by these women. We then find ourselves laughing, especially with the character of Poups, played by Bérengère Krief.
In Breath of the Dragon, Stéphanie Pillonca managed to “to reanchor life where it would tend to flee“. Through humour, a sober staging allowing her subject to express itself, and a rich cast, she manages the tour de force of putting color on this subject which is still too often taboo. there is one thing to remember from this unit, it is that there is life after cancer.
From laughter to tears, it is a fight for life in question, a rebirth after hell. A fair, funny, moving and sometimes moving film not to be missed!