A French actress who "no longer knows who she is" - update

There's good news of sorts for those who for one reason or another missed the first screening here on French television of the moving documentary of the actress Anne Girardot last Sunday on TF1.

You might remember that "Ainsi va la vie" made by Nicolas Baulieu (see previous story), followed the life of the actress, who is suffering from Alzheimer's, over the course of eight months.

It included interviews with stars and directors with whom the actress had worked, and showed her at home with her daughter and grandchildren and also at public functions.

Far from being voyeuristic, it was a moving and delicate portrayal of the private hell that accompanies the illness, both for the sufferer and those surrounding her.

Baulieu's intention, as a close personal friend of the actress, was to pay homage to a giant of the French screen who had also become an unwilling symbol of the illness.

And even though it was broadcast after 11 pm on a Sunday evening, it still managed to attract viewers, with over 2.7 million households tuning in.

To give it credit, the channel, TF1 has decided to show the documentary again on October 14.

But in its infinite wisdom has chosen a slot even less likely to draw an audience than when it was first broadcast - namely 3 o'clock in the morning. Yes that's right 3 am.

While that might be a a suitable viewing time for insomniacs, it hardly seems to do either the subject matter or the documentary justice. The alternative, for those who remember, would seem to be to set their video recorders or await the release of the DVD.

ANNIE GIRARDOT, AINSI VA LA VIE - DIMANCHE 21 SEPTEMBRE 2008 23:10 sélectionné dans TV et Reportages