"The Family": between religious ideal and mystical madness, the obscure files of a secret community

Thick foliage conceals a small discreet house, in the heart of the town of Villiers-sur-Marne, less than an hour from Paris. We hear laughter, cries, songs. "It looks like the municipal swimming pool" , comments, ironically, a neighbor. In the vast garden of the modest home reigns a festive atmosphere - weddings are celebrated. The men put on their best costume. The women wear a skirt or a long dress, 19th century style. The Villa des Cosseux is packed. Alcohol flows freely: we drink vinasse, bottled cider and crémant cassis. In a corner, young teens are trying their hand at bottlenecks.

In the gigantic refectory, a man gets up, brandishes his beer and sings the “chanson des Cosseux”, the hymn of La Famille, a religious community of more than 3000 people, made up of eight surnames. Established in the 11th, 12th and 20th arrondissements of Paris, the Déchelette, Thibout, Havet, Sandoz, Fert, Pulin, Maitre and Sanglier live there cut off from the world and get married

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