Movies

Cinema｜Tambour battant 

It's the beginning of spring in 1970, and the little Swiss village of Monchoux is unusually agitated. Is it because of the federal vote on women's suffrage? The forthcoming referendum on the expulsion of foreigners? No, it's far worse than that: the village band has imploded!

First broadcast date:

The show was launched in 2008. What do you do to keep the concept fresh and appealing?

How did you come up with this story?

Samuel Le Bihan: My daughter has autism, and after writing a book about a mother raising an autistic child (Un bonheur que je ne souhaite à personne, 2018), I wanted to explore the question from a father’s point of view. I initially focused on what this difference inspires in other people; how it transforms, troubles, and transcends an entourage. Having a child with autism isn’t easy! It requires more energy and commitment, and all parents will have a different experience.

The name “Caïn” is both unusual and very meaningful. Why was it chosen for the main character of the series?

What inspired this series?

It all happened as if in a movie! I was in Lille finishing another project called Maman a tort when my partner suggested we visit the house where Charles de Gaulle was born. Two days later, a producer phoned me to ask if I wanted to direct a series about the General’s life in the style of The Crown. I still can’t believe it was just a coincidence!

Les Petits Meurtres quickly became a must-watch series, yet it all started with a gamble…