Camille Cottin is starring in a movie retracing the odyssey of Jewish children during the war hidden in the Château de Chambord.

Inspired by historical facts

Valiant Hearts the new movie by Mona Achache was released on May 27. Inspired by historical facts, the film stars Camille Cottin revealed by the series 10% (Call my agent) and Swann Arnaud (Little peasant, Thanks to God, The swallows of Kabul). Cœurs Vaillants retraces the odyssey of 6 Jewish children hidden during the war, who left to find refuge where no one thought to go looking for them… in the castle and the park of the Chambord estate, in the middle of the hidden works of art of the Louvre. Fighting against grief and fear, chased, wandering in the surrounding forest, they are nonetheless children busy playing, reading and building, arguing and reconciling. Despite the danger that threatens them, the death that lurks, this film shows the propensity of children to know how to taste the flavor of the present moment.

Chambord was used as an “attic”

During the war, Chambord was used as an “attic” to protect the works of art in French museums. To the works of the national museums were added those from certain private collections, including those of Jewish collectors. Only these last were looted in Chambord by the Nazis during this period. The adult characters are inspired by certain figures of the Resistance and the protection of works of art, such as Rose Valland, curator at the museum of the Jeu de Paume, Jacques Jaujard, director of the national museums and Pierre Schommer, manager of the Chambord depot. Until November 1942, the Cher, a river near Chambord, served as delimitation of the demarcation line and was the nearest place of passage from Paris. From these historical elements, the director imagined the fictional story of six Jewish children hidden in boxes of works of art bound for Chambord, to cross the demarcation line. Chambord has opened a room devoted to this World War II episode with set elements from the film.