(clears throat) Alright, folks, settle in. Today, we’ve got a cracking good story about a film that’s making waves – no, wait, it’s “No Waves.” Ah, the irony. Anyway, on November 26, Canal+ broadcast “No Waves,” a film by Teddy Lussi-Modeste about a young middle school teacher, Julien, who’s falsely accused of harassment by one of his 13-year-old students. Now, this isn’t just a regular movie, people. It’s based on the director’s own bloody experience.
(pauses for comedic effect)
Imagine being a teacher, and some hormonal 13-year-old accuses you of, get this, “looking at her while touching her belt.” I mean, what’s next? “You looked at me funny, sir”? (chuckles) Now, I’m not saying the kid wasn’t traumatized or anything, but come on. “Looking at her while touching her belt”? That’s not harassment; that’s just being a bloke.
(serious tone)
But, of course, this is no laughing matter. The director, Teddy Lussi-Modeste, went through hell when he was accused by one of his students. Can you imagine? One of his older brothers threatening to kill him, another leading him to file a complaint? I mean, that’s not just a rumor, that’s a full-blown panic.
(sarcastically)
And what’s even better? The institution that’s supposed to support him, just sort of… (shrugs) …leaves him hanging. Minimizes the incident, you know, like, “Oh, it’s just a misunderstanding, mate.” But, of course, it’s not just a misunderstanding. It’s a bloody nightmare.
(in a Rowan Atkinson-esque tone)
But fear not, my friends, for Teddy Lussi-Modeste has fought back. He’s made a film that showcases the ordeal he went through, and, more importantly, highlights the struggles that teachers face every day. I mean, can you imagine being a teacher? Dealing with hormonal teenagers, smashed-up lesson plans, and whatnot? No, thank you, mate.
(in a sharp, observational tone)
And that’s where the film “No Waves” comes in. Starring François Civil as the hapless teacher, Julien, it’s a poignant portrayal of a man left to his own devices in the face of… (dramatic pause) …misunderstanding. Based on Lussi-Modeste’s own experience, it’s a powerful film that shines a light on the reality of being a teacher in today’s world.
(smirking)
So, there you have it, folks. “No Waves” is a must-watch for anyone who thinks being a teacher is just about standing in front of a chalkboard and looking stern. Trust me, it’s a lot more complicated than that. (winks)
(chuckles)
And, of course, there’s the added bonus of it being a true story, well, sort of. I mean, it’s based on real events, but let’s be real, it’s a film, people! There’s gonna be some dramatization, some embellishment… (winks) You get the picture.
(laughs)
Anyway, that’s all for today, folks. “No Waves” is a film that’s making waves (coughs) about the struggles of being a teacher. Give it a watch and, you know, spare a thought for those poor teachers out there.
(signs off)
That’s all, folks! (laughs)
Tuesday, November 26, Canal+ broadcast No waves, a poignant feature film by Teddy Lussi-Modeste, recounting the heart-wrenching story of Julien, a young middle school teacher wrongly accused of harassment by one of his 13-year-old students. The film is inspired by a real-life ordeal that director Teddy Lussi-Modeste himself experienced as a teacher in a college in Seine-Saint-Denis.
She runs the rumor… Released in cinemas in 2024, No waves is a powerful film that sheds light on the devastating consequences of false accusations, as Julien faces severe backlash from the student’s brother, including death threats, and a crippling lack of trust from his students and colleagues. Directly impacted by the accusations, Julien turns to his colleagues and superiors for support, but his pleas fall on deaf ears. François Civil delivers a remarkable performance, bringing to life the harrowing experience of this isolated teacher, who is left to fend for himself in the face of an immense misunderstanding. This gripping film will be broadcast on Canal+ this Tuesday, November 26.
To co-write the screenplay for No waves, Teddy Lussi-Modeste collaborated with Audrey Diwan, drawing heavily from his personal experience as a teacher. Before venturing into filmmaking, Lussi-Modeste was a teacher at a college in Seine-Saint-Denis, where he faced a similar false accusation from a 13-year-old student, who alleged that he had “looked at her while touching her belt.” The director vividly recalled the traumatic events that unfolded, stating, “She was 13 years old. Things quickly escalated. One of her older brothers threatened to kill me, while another incited her to file a complaint against me.”
Teddy Lussi-Modeste lived “in fear and shame”
Despite his determination to continue teaching, Lussi-Modeste confessed to living in constant fear, as he feared being attacked on his daily commute to college. He explained, “I went out every day, wondering if someone would break my legs.” The experience left him feeling consumed by fear, shame, and guilt, particularly for putting his colleagues in harm’s way. “I lived in fear and shame – guilt, too: I didn’t want my colleagues, who escorted me to the metro, to be attacked because of me,” he added.
Although No waves was released in cinemas several years after the #NoWave movement, which emerged on Twitter in 2018, the film plays a crucial role in amplifying teachers’ voices and highlighting their feelings of abandonment by their superiors, who often downplay incidents in schools. Lussi-Modeste emphasized the importance of listening to teachers, stating, “Reading the press, we realize that teachers are little or poorly protected by their institution, which has paradoxically built its own fragility over the years… Today, teachers are speaking, and it is essential to listen to them.”
