Kilian Riedhof, Germany | Belgium | France 2022
More in love than when they first met and with only seventeen months of parenting under their belts, Hélène (Camélia Jordana) and Antoine Leiris (Pierre Deladonchamps) are young and cheerfully busy. As a journalist Antoine balances working at-home with babysitting their toddler Melvil (Zoé Iorio). He and Melvil send Hélène off with a kiss, waving from the balcony as she and friend Bruno (Yannick Choirat) leave for the concert at Bataclan nightclub, unaware they’re bidding “the love of my life” and “Mama” a final adieu. Initially it’s the text messages from their friends, and then the confusing, varied news coverage – “Twitter says stay at home.” Ignoring, Antoine and friend (Thomas Mustin) desperately race into the siren-ridden night, careening from one hospital to another. Hours later, when his sister (Christelle Cornil) answers the telephone the look on her face suspends time, shattering Antoine’s world.
Terrorists’ attack on Bataclan Theater November 13, 2015, is the Parisian capital’s worst since WW II; 90 people die. Antoine defiantly voices his refusal to acquiesce to killers in a Facebook post three days later, “For as long as he lives, this little boy will insult you with his happiness and freedom.” Igniting media chatter worldwide, Antoine struggles under the weight of navigating unsought fame, plus fulltime parenting/meeting Melvil’s needs, burying “the love of my life” and coping with grief.
Based on Leiris’ eponymous memoir, director Kilian Riedhof with Marc Blöbaum, Jan Braren and Stéphanie wrote the sensitive, sober screenplay. Caught squarely in the timeframe of Antoine’s real-time experience, audiences intuit the tempestuousness family members feel. Award-winning actor Pierre Deladonchamps’ mercurial yet studied performance restraint is expressionistically discerning, perceptive, and sensible. Stealing hearts as Leiris’ son is the demonstrative darling, Zoé Iorio (child coached by Nouma Bordj). YOU WILL NOT HAVE MY HATE is a wholeheartedly dignified and inspirational reality check. ()