For twenty minutes, Sylvie talks regarding herself. La Villeneuvoise traces the last three decades. Those since September 1991, when she contracted AIDS. The short film (1) was produced by the municipality of Villeneuve-Loubet for World HIV Day, December 1. A strong testimony. A “survivor” frank of the necklace which opens, facing the camera. Sylvie was 20 when she was diagnosed with HIV. She does not let herself down, she decides to “vivre”. Now fifty years old, she plunges back into those dark years. The judgment of others, even those she loves. The day she “close to death” following catching salmonellosis. Then, all the attempts of treatments that she ingested to try to overcome this disease. Of the thirty tablets that this Villeneuvoise must swallow, of their side effects. The memories of each pain are intact. “It’s as if I had screwdrivers in my ears” ; “burning hands”.
Misconceptions, lack of communication
Sitting in her chair, Sylvie opens up. His raw story is interspersed with shots of the village of Villeneuve-Loubet. Where she came from and where she stayed.
Rejections, the fifties has known. Like that of a 5-year-old boy who denied her a hug, screaming that she “the disease that kills people”.
She knew how to get over it. Above, too, some doctors’ reflections on his illness.
Preconceived ideas, once more, since she gave birth to a child. Sylvie details her maternity, her daily life when she only takes one tablet a day. If things have changed? “Not really”, she breathes. In the form of anaphora, the Villeneuvoise wonders “why” is there a lack of communication around HIV. “Why was it that during Covid, not all the people who got tested were also tested for HIV thanks to the Rapid Diagnostic Orientation Test (TROD)?”. This quick sample taken from a drop of blood taken from the fingertip. All this, Sylvie talks regarding. This is because over the years she has become “a figure” in Villeneuve-Loubet that the municipality has decided to give him his word. To bear witness to her who is “always there to lend a hand”very present within the church and with people in difficulty.
1. The video can be viewed on the town’s Youtube page: @villeneuveloubet3749.
