A movie release isn’t always a smooth ride… Flo, which hit theaters on Wednesday, weathered a few storms before it hit theaters.
This film dedicated to the navigator Florence Artaud, loosely inspired and based on the book by Jan Kefelek, a biopic, could not have been released. Reason ? The project, staged by Geraldine Danone, provoked a strong reaction from part of Florence Artaud’s family, who accordingly took legal action.
As reported France InterLast April, as the film was preparing to premiere on the beach at the Cannes Film Festival, Florence Artaud’s daughter filed a summary lawsuit in a Paris coroner’s court to obtain a copy of the script. The request is denied.
In its decision, the court considered that “No item has been produced“By Marie Artaud-Lingoy, The Navigator’s Daughter”It does not confirm the fear he expresses of being exposed in a humiliating way for “Mother’s life” that might harm her memory.“.
AlloCiné met director Géraldine Danon last August during the presentation of Flo at the Angoulême Francophonie Film Festival. We asked him about the lawsuit filed against the film. “We won. Anyway, for me it’s a false controversy, because I think when the family sees the film, they will understand that I focused on telling the story of the light of Florence. Because to me he is a being of light. The film speaks for itself. So the rest, I don’t know what we’re talking about, basically.“
Therefore, the film was neither banned nor retouched in the end. However, Geraldine Danone was forced to add a mention in the credits to the fictional part of the film. “Yes, I should add. I am telling the truth. But I felt obligated to add mentions to respect everyone’s privacy. The concern is to respect the privacy of the people who are still there. There are liberties taken in the sense that I’m making film, fiction, not documentaries. So I use strong images to tell the truth, mostly.“
The sailor’s brother, Hubert Artaud, did not take legal action, but has since repeatedly stated that he was very unhappy with the project. The latter also posted his opinion on the film in the “Audience Ratings” section of our site. “A biopic of Geraldine Danone, who is making her first film. A totally messed up movie with dialogues that are ridiculously garbled and poor. The magic of Florence’s character does not come into play at all. The boat takes up 30% of the movie, the rest is drinking or sex. A total failure that will undoubtedly fail. What a pity that Besson did not create such a beautiful theme.“Hubert Artaud is probably referring to the film Le Grand Bleu, directed by Luc Besson, about the freediver Jacques Mayolle, who has just switched to Arte.
Charlotte Artaud, niece of Florence Artaud, daughter of Hubert Artaud, also posted a lengthy text in our Viewer Reviews section. “It is a personal insult and disappointment to see such a caricature of my aunt’s heritage, just as it is insulting to see my father unfairly attacked. The memory of Florence, like the dignity of my family, deserves much more than what was presented on the screen.“.
His film is defamatory from the first scene!
Hubert Artaud also recently gave an interview to celebrity magazine Closer:I’m angry. We wouldn’t mind if the film was a tribute to Florence. This movie is supposed to be made by friends, but my sister was never friends with Geraldine Danone! He is one of this group, these businessmen… His film is defamatory from the first scene!“
and added: “He preferred to reveal the dark sides of the character, which existed but were completely distorted, even if invented from scratch. Like the scene where he’s drunk driving. At that time, Florence was studying medicine and did not drink at all. Denon claims he caused the accident when in fact he was sitting behind the car. Because seat belts were not mandatory at the time, he was thrown from the rear window, causing severe head injuries.“.
On France Inter’s website, Géraldine Danon denies portraying Florence Artaud as an alcoholic. “Florence Artaud was never an alcoholic, and she is not an alcoholic. In my film it is very clear!“, he says.
Check out this post on InstagramA post shared by Geraldine Danon (@geraldinedanon)
Among Hubert Artaud’s criticisms is the personal aspect of his sister’s life: “There are many sex scenes. For what ? Of course, my sister was very beautiful and she had adventures like everyone else. But why not show other, more important aspects?“
In an interview, Geraldine Danone explains this desire to show that she was in love with Florence Artaud. On our microphone, the director said that he “loved good food, he loved men.” In the press kit, he says more about talking about his various partners: “In the film, I tried to show some of these men who were important in her life. First of all, Jean-Claude Parisis was the first to introduce him to the sea, with whom he first crossed the Atlantic Ocean on the “Petrushka”. Then I decided to play Olivier de Kersausson (who is one of the most charismatic and poetic boats for me), to be a sailor of sailors and I experienced a great love story between them… This sentence is at the end of the film. I would like to mention there that we respect everyone’s privacy. Olivier is an extremely modest person and is not in the habit of talking about his love life. But he clearly knows what we did…”
This sentence at the end of the film is an indication that we respect everyone’s privacy
Still on the press set, actor Stéphane Caillard, who plays Florence Artaud, elaborates: “The relationship with Kersauson is quite fictional, but it allows us to show Florence Artaud’s competitive side. This builds their relationship on the principle: “You never run on water, what are you afraid of?” » or “I do the same thing as you” and this allows us, through the portrait of the heroine, to tell her struggle…“
In April last year, Inter France gave Geraldine Danon the floor to respond to the various attacks she has been the subject of. “From the beginning, I contacted Marie, whom I have known since childhood, I told her about the film project with her mother, and she was interested from the beginning. The film is loosely adapted from the life of Florence Artaud, written at the beginning of the film, a view of the Florence I knew well..”
““I met him before Route du Rhum 90,” he continues, “we became very close, it’s a friendship that spanned the years, we always found each other at every stage of our lives before his day. Death, where I received a letter from Ushuaia, telling me that he was going to buy an amethyst in the shop, for me !”
Known as “Atlantic’s Little Bride,” Flo tells the story of a fiercely independent woman who lived her dreams to the fullest and who tragically died in 2015. The movie is currently in theaters.
Source: Allocine

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.