Jean-Sébastien Soldaïni, with Europe 1 with AFP 7:45 p.m., September 9, 2021, modified at 8:50 p.m., September 9, 2021
The head of state, the French political class, the family, actors and other personalities of show business were at the Invalides Thursday to attend the national tribute paid to Jean-Paul Belmondo, who died Monday at the age 88 years old. "We love Belmondo because he looked like us," greeted Emmanuel Macron.
A national tribute to the sound of "Chi Mai": France greeted Thursday at the Invalides the memory of Jean-Paul Belmondo, cinema legend who died Monday at the age of 88, with a ceremony both solemn and popular.
Or a mixture of "Marseillaise" played by the Republican Guard, review of the troops by Emmanuel Macron and moved fans, like this man in a sleeveless leather jacket holding a poster of
L'As des As
.
"He never ceased to seek happiness but also to give it": such were the words of Victor Belmondo, grandson of the actor, actor himself, who spoke, accompanied by the other grandchildren. of the actor and his youngest, Stella.
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"We love Belmondo because he looked like us", greeted President Emmanuel Macron in his eulogy, referring to "six decades of French life (...) six decades of cavalcade".
"Cop, thug, always magnificent", continued the Head of State, in a nod to his filmography, before concluding "Adieu Bébel".
And the actor's coffin came out to the sound of "Chi Mai", music by Ennio Morricone on the soundtrack of the film
The Professional
, played by the orchestra of the Republican Guard.
"He is immortal"
This ceremony had brought together many stars, such Patrick Bruel, Gilles Lellouche, the couple Guillaume Canet and Marion Cotillard, the DJ Bob Sinclar, whose stage name is inspired by a character of "Bébel", Thierry Frémaux, general delegate of the Cannes Film Festival, or even Cyril Hanouna.
"He is unique, no one will replace Jean-Paul Belmondo. As an actor, we all have Jean-Paul Belmondo in us," Jean Dujardin told reporters.
"
Saint-Augustine said, the dead are invisible, not absent.
For me Jean-Paul, he is not absent.
Jean-Paul is like Johnny he is there.
He wouldn't have wanted us to shout.
He is immortal, Jean-Paul, he will never leave ", breathed Michel Drucker, at the microphone of BFMTV.
In the courtyard of the Invalides, in addition to the family and personalities, nearly 1,000 people from the public were able to attend the tribute, provided with their health pass.
Had to get there early to get in.
Like Brigitte Ratou, 66-year-old retiree, K-way and sneakers on his feet, from Le Mans.
"I arrived at 7 am. It's important for me to be there, it's like saying goodbye to an old companion, someone who was there from my teenage years," she says.
Gérard (who gives neither name nor age), T-shirt bearing the effigy of the Bébel of "Pierrot le fou", says he has been there since 9 hours.
He wouldn't have "missed it for the world."
Family funerals
For those who could not enter, giant screens were installed on the esplanade where the crowd had gathered. The doors of the Invalides were then to open to all those who wanted to meditate from 7:30 p.m. in front of the coffin. Friday morning, the funeral of Jean-Paul Belmondo will take place in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés church, in the center of Paris, in the privacy of the family.