Sonia Rolland’s story is told in a France 2 film: “I regret that Genevieve de Fontenay did not see the unexpected fate”

Crowned Miss France 2000 at the age of 18, Sonia Rolland is an important figure on French television today.

The one who dreamed of being a basketball player will finally wear his French scarf a bit casually. And just today, in an unexpected fate that airs tonight on France 2, Sonia Rolland decided to tell her story.

At the La Rochelle Fiction Festival last September, Sonia Rolland spoke to Allocine about this modern and social tale he wrote and directed.

Allociné: After filming a documentary in Rwanda and a short film called Ordinary Life, you decided to tell part of your story in Unexpected Fate. What prompted this project?

Sonya Rolland : I introduced myself to the public and told a little about what motivated me since childhood. When we are born into the medium through Miss France, we are entrusted with things that remain in the glossy paper row, but which we do not know deeply. It was to show that when fate intervenes, one should not take it for granted.

In this film, you are not only the director, because you also play the role of the screenwriter. What challenges have you faced in managing this dual role?

It took me six years to make this film. It took me six years to convince myself that I was the kind of director who could do the role perfectly. On the other hand, I knew one thing, and that was that I was about to embark on an ambitious project. I was surrounded by people who really inspired me, from the cinematographer to the editor, from the producers to the program advisor. I had a great team.

In this film you tell your story. Is it a difficult exercise to reveal so much and delve into the sometimes difficult parts of life?

It is difficult to maintain the right distance from what can sometimes be painful. Anything that was painful, things that were hard to digest like racism or social discrimination, or things that could weigh you down and prevent you from moving forward in life. This movie is truly for everyone, as the popular world must continue to believe in him and release his chains, but also his own demons. Because at the end of the day, we all have an inner enemy that keeps us from moving forward and tells us:No, don’t go, it’s not for you“. I do not understand this sentence. I am proof that with determination, work and listening we are moving forward. We can go very far. But for that you need to know how to restore the issue.

There are many autobiographical aspects to this story, but of course just as many fictional passages. What is true and what is not?

Everything is true except what is at stake in between. These are the testimonies that come from some of them that I wanted to highlight. It was tested, but not necessarily in my time. It is true Nadia’s journey, what she experiences, emotions, worries of family and people around her. There’s a lot of true stuff, but there’s also a big element of fiction because I wanted everyone to see themselves in this film.

To make it more universal, I’ve moved away from my region. I gave my character a Miss Poitou-Charentes scarf. It was to thank them for accompanying me on this adventure. Anyway, it doesn’t change anything, but it still allows the viewer to distance themselves from my personal story.

in this movie Clementine Cellier Plays Lady Tinker Bell. Did this person really exist?

Yes. It still exists. Her name is Genevieve LeBlanc. He was our teacher and Madame de Fontenay’s right-hand man. At that time Madame de Fontenay wanted Miss to know that he was one of her favourites. There was a kind of impartiality that he imposed, and therefore he did not interact with the candidates then. It was really quite nice because it challenged us and made us want to know more about it.

Before choosing me, Genevieve was very cautious. He was not the one we saw working on the set. It was really born out of my choice. He wanted to show that this plural France respected him and that he was proud of my choice, which was still very new. I was the first Miss of African descent, which represented something unimaginable at the time.

Did the Miss France committee know about your film project?

Yes. The partner of this film is Miss France company. Madame de Fontenay knew about the project. He even offered to borrow my hat. What I regret is that he didn’t see it. He was very sick and very isolated. He left it to real discretion.

This film is ultimately a true love letter to your father, to whom this film is dedicated. Was it important for you to respect him?

Yes. I regret that my father is no longer in this world. I think he would be very proud. He was passionate about cinema and fiction. It was he who gave me the taste of it all. I dedicate this film to him because it is thanks to him and his madness that I am finally here.

I also dedicate it to my mother, because thanks to her structure, I also had this journey. Feet on the ground and head in the stars is not an easy exercise. And my mother was a big part of keeping me down to earth.