Our review of A Place for Pierrot: Grégory Gadebois, poignant in the skin of an autistic person
Director Hélène Médigue delivers her first documentary film, focusing on the challenges facing caregivers in particular. Released Wednesday, September 10.
At 45, Pierrot ( Grégory Gadebois , always very accurate), is a big kid, unpredictable, not entirely controllable. He doesn't always hear what is said to him, gets angry for no apparent reason, struggles to express what he feels. He is autistic. His lawyer sister Camille ( Marie Gillain , committed and perfect) watches over him like the apple of her eye. One day, revolted by the way he is being treated, she decides to remove him from the nursing home where he is placed. "I hope you realize what you're going to have to take on if this continues!" warns her ex-husband (Vincent Elbaz). According to Camille, the situation won't last, yet she will be forced to make choices between her job, her role as a mother and her life as a "carer". She, who is used to having everything under control, will be overwhelmed.
Hélène Médigue, the director of Une place pour Pierrot, delivers a first film that is at once very well-researched, poignant and sensitive, despite some lengths (we can guess that the subject is close to her heart). The former actress of the series Plus belle la vie knows what she is talking about. The younger sister of an autistic brother, in 2012, she presented a short film on autism at the Cannes Film Festival ( C'est pas de chance quoi ). In addition, she founded the association Les maisons de Vincent , reception centers adapted to autistic adults.
With her camera, she takes a kind look at difference without avoiding any aspect of this developmental disorder or its impact on those close to her. Because Pierrot is not the only one looking for his place. As a teenager, Camille's daughter (a credible Mathilde Labarthe) sees her daily life disrupted; the apartment is too small to accommodate a third person. A family friend, Gino ( Patrick Mille ), offers to give Pierrot a job in his restaurant. But the situation cannot last. Hélène Médigue says there is no miracle solution, but her feature film is a bearer of hope.
Rating: 2.5/4
lefigaro
