"I think they gave me my birthday!
»The features drawn by a sleepless night, Colette Marin-Catherine has a smile on Tuesday April 26th.
The day before, she started by celebrating her 93rd birthday.
And this morning, she woke up with an extraordinary gift: an Oscar.
Nearly 9,000 km from his apartment in Caen, “Colette”, directed by Anthony Giacchino, won the statuette for best short documentary in the night.
The film traces the journey of the old lady in the footsteps of her brother Jean-Pierre, who died in deportation in 1945 in the Dora camp, in Germany.
She couldn't see the ceremony
"I am extremely happy for the memory of Jean-Pierre, and very happy for the film crew," says Colette. All night long, the main protagonist of the documentary tried to watch the ceremony, but a technical problem decided otherwise. This did not prevent him from watching. This Tuesday morning, it was with small eyes that she began her marathon of solicitations. "Between the media, the messages on the Facebook page and the phone calls, we are more than fifty contacts", slips Lesly Coutts, a friend, at midday.
The coronation as such does not seem to overwhelm the Caen grandmother: “The statuettes, everyone knows what they look like.
"But the emotion is there:" If we had talked about my brother Jean-Pierre in Normandy, I would have already been happy.
In France, the same.
In Europe, it would have been perfect.
There, it's global! ”
exclaims Colette.
She also salutes “the professionalism and respect” of the film crew during the filming in Dora's camp.
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All were to meet on the Zoom app on Tuesday evening to discuss the prestigious award.
Lucie Fouble will be there.
The student, a volunteer at the Musée de la Coupole in Saint-Omer (Pas-de-Calais), had written a biographical note on Jean-Pierre and accompanied Colette to Germany.
“This documentary especially comforts me in my professional path.
I want to orient myself towards research.
There is still a lot to do on deportation, ”she said.
In the meantime, the team will be able to savor.
Starting with the “XXL chocolate bar” received by Colette thanks to the Oscar, in addition to those offered for her birthday.
