Brothers: The True Story of Michel and Patrice by Robert
The film is expected in theaters on Wednesday 24 April Brothers by Olivier Casas with Mathieu Kassovitz and Yvan Attal, is the film adaptation of an incredible true story, long kept secret. That of Michel de Robert and his brother Patrice, who, as children, were abandoned by their mother in 1948.
At the age of five and seven, following an accident, the two brothers took refuge in a forest not far from La Rochelle, where they survived alone for seven years. Patrice, the eldest, protected his little brother Michel and did everything he could to ensure he survived.
This early experience cemented an unshakable fraternal bond that had a strong impact on their adult lives. If Michel is still alive today, his brother Patrice could not bear to return to civilization, and committed suicide when he was 48 years old. Olivier Casas’ film returns to this story and follows Michel and Patrice in their childhood, but also in their adult life.
A story kept secret for a long time
Michel de Robert kept the story of his extraordinary childhood a secret for a long time, largely because it involved a deeply personal and painful experience that he shared exclusively with his brother Patrice. For Michel, this story of survival and brotherhood after being abandoned in the forest represented a part of their life that belonged to them intimately. He believed that this story, full of emotions and memories, should remain private to preserve the sacredness and intimacy of their bond. As he told us when we met in Paris, she did not want their story to be exposed to criticism or discussed publicly, because it symbolized their solidarity in the face of trials and their brotherly love.
It was our story. We didn’t want to talk about it, it was up to us.
The death of his brother in 1993 was a turning point for Michel. After Patrice’s death, Michel began to feel the weight of silence and the loneliness of carrying this past with him alone. This change in circumstances gradually led him to consider sharing their story with his knowledge. It is in these conditions that Olivier Casas, the director, who has worked with Michel for several years, discovered his incredible story nine years ago.
A tribute to his missing brother
More than thirty years after the suicide of his brother Patrice, Michel de Robert is still very affected by his absence. Above all, he wanted the film Brothers celebrates their love and this unshakable bond that united them. He specifies thus:
“The scenario absolutely had to reflect the reality of what I experienced and above all highlight the love I had for my brother. It wasn’t just this story of survival in the forest that interested me. The fundamental thing is that the film pays a true homage to my brother, that it bears witness to the love I feel for him.“
The release of the film is at the same time liberating for Michel de Robert, who shares his intimate story with the entire public, but also full of pain, as he told us:
“The only problem is my brother, that’s all. The only problem, it’s not sad, is that we talk about my brother a lot and it’s difficult for me.“
This statement reveals how painful it is for him to revisit memories of his brother, not because it brings back sadness, but because it serves to remind him of the depth of their bond and the loss he continues to feel.
However, he finds some consolation in the fact that, through the film, his brother seems to live again: “But at the same time I see him living. At the same time, he is there. At the same time, he is with us.“
Source: Cine Serie
Ray Ortiz is a journalist at Gossipify, known for his coverage of trending news and current events. He is committed to providing readers with accurate and unbiased reporting, and is respected for his ability to keep readers informed on the latest news and issues.
