For those who already know the story of the Bobigny trial – on November 8, 1972, Michèle Chevalier, mother of Marie-Claire, who was tried the previous month for having had an abortion, appeared for complicity – this in no way alleviates the strength that emerges when we hear it like this today. Let us once again salute the talent of director Cédric Aussir, who, in addition to his ability to mobilize an impeccable cast – Florence Darel plays lawyer Gisèle Halimi and Sam Karmann plays a fairly odious president – knows how to make things resonate so well.
Let us add that in addition to the pleasure of hearing this historic trial replayed, this podcast is of public utility because, even though abortion was enshrined in the Constitution on Monday March 4, even though young people now have resources that were not then available, particularly the Internet, it is clear that one thing, widely denounced at the time, remains to be deplored: the lack of sexuality education.
The first episode of the podcast allows, thanks to numerous archives, to contextualize the holding of the trial, one year after the publication, on April 5, 1971, in Le Nouvel Observateur, of the “Manifesto of the 343” calling for the legalization of abortion , even though article 317 of the penal code provided for up to five years of imprisonment and a substantial fine. And shows how Gisèle Halimi decided to make this issue “a national public affair”. In episode 2, we hear the young Marie-Claire Chevalier recount the rape of which she was a victim – the time was still full of shame and therefore euphemism since she only dares to speak of “brutality”.
Great witnesses
The following episode is devoted to the major witnesses cited by Gisèle Halimi. And first of all Michel Rocard, whose sensitive words are particularly strong: “I received a heavy Christian education, made up of blockages and prohibitions. I happened to wonder myself how I would have reacted if I had found myself in a similar situation (…). This is, in my view, an unfair situation in which a young woman is prohibited from making the fundamental choice of giving or not giving life. On this point, as a member of the French Parliament, I intend to intervene. »
And added: “There is also a situation that I find unacceptable, as a socialist activist, which is that people who have sufficient income can go to have an abortion in foreign countries, while those who do not do not have these means and are reduced to clandestine operations. »
An injustice which was denounced in turn by the actresses Françoise Fabian, who plays herself here, and Delphine Seyrig or even by Simone de Beauvoir, whose power of testimony – just like her humor – is absolutely remarkable. As is that of Professor Paul Milliez, who, although fundamentally hostile to abortion, said: “It is up to the woman to choose, not for us to impose our conditions as men (…). We should not be repressive, but educational. » We couldn't say it better, and this podcast, which is both overwhelming and galvanizing, allows us to hear it.
