Starring in The Count of Monte Cristo, this young actor plays in this poignant story to discover for free – News Series on TV

In the teeming world of television, it can be difficult to find works that truly move us. Well, The Story of Annette Zelman is one of those gems that deserves to be highlighted.

Adapted from Laurent Joly's book retracing the true story of Annette Zelman, this moving historical fiction was broadcast on January 25, 2023 on France 2 and immersed the viewer in a tragic love story at the heart of the Second World War.

A heartbreaking true story

It is the story of Romeo and Juliet in occupied France. The story of a couple of lovers trapped in the dark hours of the Second World War.

She is Annette Zelman, a Jewish student. He is Jean Jausion, a non-Jewish notable.

Barely 20 years old, Annette and Jean meet at the Beaux-Arts, fall in love and decide to get married. But it is 1941, at the beginning of the German occupation of Paris, and the deportation of the Jews of France will soon turn their destiny upside down.

It must be said that Jean's parents view this union with a very bad eye and refuse to see their son marry a Jewess. Determined to avoid the dishonor of what they consider to be a misalliance, the Jausion family will commit the irreparable by denouncing Annette to the Gestapo.

The machine was then launched, with no way back, and Annette was deported to Auschwitz on June 22, 1942…

Amazing actors

While Philippe Le Guay's direction is simple, it nevertheless brings to life a story of remarkable depth while capturing the essence of this historical drama. Indeed, the sober staging allows the raw emotions of the characters to be fully expressed.

But what makes the film so beautiful is undoubtedly the performances of Ilona Bachelier and Vassili Schneider, the actors who play Annette and Jean. Their vibrant energy and on-screen chemistry convey their characters' desire to live and their unwavering faith in the face of the terrible obstacles they face.

Vassili Schneider, currently starring in the film The Count of Monte Cristo, also won the ADAMI Young Male Hopeful Award at the La Rochelle Fiction Festival in 2022 for his vibrant performance in The Story of Annette Zelman.

If you missed the broadcast of The Story of Annette Zelman in January 2023, don't panic, the film is broadcast on Arte this Thursday, August 8 from 8:45 p.m. Don't miss this opportunity to discover this magnificent work.