Tribute to Belmondo: France bids a final farewell to its "Ace of aces"
France paid this Thursday a final tribute to Jean-Paul Belmondo at the Invalides.
AP - Michel Euler
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
It had to be for "The Magnificent": France paid a national tribute this Thursday at the Invalides to Jean-Paul Belmondo, legend of cinema who died at 88 years old.
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The ceremony was 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.
►Also read: Jean-Paul Belmondo, cascading roles for an extraordinary career
"
We love Belmondo because he looked like us
", greeted President 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.
This ceremony 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 from “Bébel”, Thierry Frémaux, general delegate of the Cannes Film Festival, or even Cyril Hanouna.
"
He is immortal
"
“
He is unique, no one will replace Jean-Paul Belmondo.
As an actor, we all have Jean-Paul Belmondo in us,
”Jean Dujardin, perhaps one of Belmondo's on-screen heirs, 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.
(
With
AFP)
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