'Abbé Pierre: A Century of Devotion' trivia and fun facts
Lack of documentation
It took a long time to write the movie, because anything writer/director Frédéric Tellier could get his hands on was more of less hagiographical, or legends written by Abbé Pierre or his colleagues.
Cannes 2023
The film was selected to be screened out of competition at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.
Characterization
The production team worked a lot to log that it will be seen by Abbé Pierre. Finally, opt to not exaggerate and be quedaron with the nose of Benjamin Lavernhe. Frédéric Tellier affirmed that with his life an actor appears more closely to another persona when he does not try because of her.
Filming locations
Shooting started in December 2021, and took place mostly in Paris and its surroundings. In February 2022, the shoot moved south to the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region (Lyon, Chambéry, Annecy, the Vercors). Another sequence was shot in July 2022 in Agon-Coutainville, in Normandy.
Old mates
Second collaboration between Benjamin Lavernhe and director Frédéric Tellier after 'El caso SK1' (2014), and second collaboration between Emmanuelle Bercot and director Frédéric Tellier after 'Goliath' (2022).
A single actor
Frédéric Tellier wanted to cast only one actor, who would be able to personify Abbé Pierre young and old, so someone who looks rather young, who could then be aged with makeup and prosthetics. For the auditions, the actors had to play the winter 54 and Palais des Congrès speeches, and Benjamin Lavernhe immediately stood out.
Working title
The working title was 'Les onze vies de l'abbé Pierre' ('The Eleven Lives of Abbé Pierre' in English).