Disappearance, mystery, and unconditional love: with Sauvage, Camille Ponsin tackles a true story that is as fascinating as it is dizzying. Blending intimate investigation with a captivating narrative, the director delivers a powerful debut film, featuring Céliane Sallette. We had the pleasure of meeting them during the film's release to discuss this extraordinary project.
©Camille Ponsin
Tell us about the genesis of the film. What inspired you to create it?
Camille Ponsin : It's a fascinating story that takes place in the Cévennes, where I have family and where I partly grew up. The journey of this young girl and her mother has always touched me deeply. I have been confronted with it for many years. It changed the life of the valley. Naturally, I wanted to tell it. I first conducted a documentary investigation to enrich the screenplay, then I met Isabelle Madelaine, the producer, who suggested making it as a fiction.
Céline Sallette : Honestly, faced with such a clear approach, I could only say yes! What was exciting about Camille's project was exploring this margin and delving into the question.
What does it mean to disappear from society? And of course, the whole question of the bond with your child. We know that our children do not belong to us, and that is what is at the heart of the film.
As a mother, how did you receive this scenario?
Céline Sallette: There is a mystery in the fate of our children, and they do not belong to us. We learn and grow through the challenges of parenting. There isn't really a manual; it's not something that is taught in school. But mistakes come with a price.
Did you feel a responsibility towards the real character?
Camille Ponsin: Of course. Even though fiction allows for certain liberties, it is essential to take care of the characters whose story we are telling. I worked closely with the mother; I accompanied her when she was caring for her daughter lost in the woods, when she brought her food or searched for signs of her. I conducted numerous interviews to trace the story over fifteen years. All of this was to stay as true to the mother’s reality as possible and avoid caricature, which is very important.
it's easy in this kind of context. It was important to show all the complexity and pain she was experiencing, but also to try to understand her daughter, her complete withdrawal from the world, and her wild side, with all the complexities that come with it.Céline Sallette: Me too, of course. Working with stories, whether true or fictional, involves taking on a responsibility: embodying fragments of humanity. Even in fiction, we carry a weight of soul. The fact that these people exist makes this responsibility even stronger.
Did you write the roles for two?
Camille Ponsin: There was a script, but a lot of back-and-forth with the actors shaped the characters. There were suggestions from Célina, from Bertrand Belin for the role of the father, and from Lou for the role of the young girl. The whole film is a team effort, including the technicians. We discussed, confronted our viewpoints, and decided to keep an element of mystery, as it’s hard to provide answers that we don’t have, and the young girl and her mother don't always have all the answers themselves.
The film questions the contradictions of a libertarian community. Is this a central issue for you?
Camille Ponsin: No, it’s not a central issue; it’s the backdrop. The story could take place elsewhere. It’s primarily the story of a child who is drifting and a mother trying to help him.
to psychological issues, to depression, but the real question is: how do we care for someone who seems out of reach? Sometimes we get it wrong, but we have to keep trying. Even in a community that embraces individuality, this extreme drift is unsettling and challenges everyone’s contradictions.Would you say, to conclude, that Sauvage follows the logic of a fairy tale before turning it on its head at the very end of the film?
Camille Ponsin: Indeed, by choosing to show documentary footage of the real mother during the credits, I wanted to remind everyone that this film is inspired by an incredible true story at a time when many could have forgotten it, swept away by the romanticism and emotion...
Sauvage by Camille Ponsin
Starring Céline Sallette, Lou Lampros, and Bertrand Belin
In theaters on April 8