Marinette: Intensive soccer training for Garance Marillier

What is it about?

Marinette Pichon has had football in her heart since an early age. Raised by a brave mother with an abusive husband, she overcomes adversity and develops an unwavering determination. Working odd jobs and a sports career, he was selected for the French national team and then signed by a major American club. Marinette then comes to the United States with her mother, pursuing her dream of becoming the best player in the world.

After Julia Ducournau’s Grave, Garance Marillier headlines Marinette, in theaters this Wednesday. Directed by Virgin Verrier, this film is based on the biography of Marinette Pichon. never let goFollows the career of a French footballer who made history with his remarkable career and goalscoring record.

The first French player to have a career in the United States, where he was crowned player of the year and top scorer in 2002 and 2003, Marinette Pichon also held the record (men and women combined) for most goals scored until September 2020. Blueshirt, with 81 hits in 112 caps. “Only” 51 against Thierry Henry, his male counterpart.

If football takes a prominent place in the film, Marinette is more interested in the course of her life. “When I discovered this story, this course of Marinette Pichon’s life, which is simply extraordinary, I told myself that it was a challenge and an honor., explains Garance Marillier to our microphone. VSIt was a physical and athletic challenge that I wanted to take on. I really liked this story, which starts from an almost chaotic and violent family base, and at the same time, the fact that he finds oxygen in football, which is already a very masculine and very hostile environment for women. That determination, that very fighting character, very determined to achieve his dreams, obviously he’s a great character.

That determination, that very fighting character, very determined to achieve his dreams, obviously he’s a great character.

“I think it would be a mistake to reduce the film to a football film. It’s a film that explores a lot of things, carries a lot of different messages, and it’s primarily a life journey..

True, this happens in a football context. The action of the film takes place in the years 90-2000. Marinette Pichon ends her career because the means available to players are too weak to achieve their goals. Today, to show a bit of evolution, we’re 20 years later and there’s still no broadcast for the Women’s World Cup, so that’s saying a lot!Garance Marillier continues at our microphone.

6 months of sports life

In order to slip into this character and be believable in the shoes of a high-level player, Garan Marilier had to train intensively. “I followed several months of physical training. I had a trainer who was really focused on the physical. We worked on transforming my body into that of a professional football player. A lot of bodybuilding, a lot of hours doing squats… a lot of hours on the ground working on attitude, movements, support… a lot of hours with the ball… so we don’t waste time on set. A time saver to be believed.”

It was a bit like a big 6 month marathon.

and add:But that’s really something I love about this job. This is the idea of ​​performance, of body transformation. It’s something that’s really central to my work. It was, of course, physically demanding, but it was a dream, a joy, that this work bore fruit. It was a bit like a big 6-month marathon where you had to cover the distance, have cardio, endurance, fitness… and the hardest thing was not to get injured on set. There is fatigue, lack of recovery… 6 months, managing a sports life. I didn’t go out, I ate what I needed, I really took care of my body because it was my work tool.”

Around Garance Marillier, Marinette also brings together Emilie Dequenne, Fred Testot, Sylvie Testud, Alban Lenoir and Caroline Proust. Marinette opens in theaters on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.