While the film “November”, a feature film by Cédric Jimenez on the hunt for terrorists after the attacks of November 13, 2015, is soon arriving in theaters, it has just emerged from legal proceedings concerning the representation of one of his characters.
November exits legal proceedings
We know directors who have it easier than Cédric Jimenez. A year ago, the filmmaker presented North ferry, detective fiction inspired by real events. A success in theaters with more than 2.2 million admissions in France, but a great media noise around and virulent criticism on the “political” matter of the film.
Today Friday September 16, three weeks before the release of his new film Novembera film about the five days following the attacks of November 13 and the investigation carried out by the anti-terrorist brigadea legal dispute has just been settled with an agreement between the two opposing parties.
A complaint lodged against the production company of November
Recall of facts : the evening of November 13, 2015, a terrorist commando led by Abdelhamid Abaaoud perpetrated attacks in the name of the Islamic State at the Stade de France, at the Bataclan, and in several cafés and terraces in the 10th and 11th arrondissements of Paris. The attacks do 130 dead and more than 400 injured. A few days later, Abdelhamid Abaaoud and two accomplices are located in Saint-Denis. The assault on the apartment in which they took refuge took place on the morning of November 18, ending with the death of the three individuals.
To locate Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the authorities were able to count on Sonia’s information – a pseudonym -, a friend of Hasna Aït Boulahcen, accomplice and cousin of Abdelhamid Abaaoud who helped him hide. Sonia, informed by Hasna Aït Boulahcen of her plan to help her cousin, informs the anti-terrorist prosecutor’s office November 16, 2015. A key witness therefore in the tracking and neutralization of the last elements of the terrorist commando still present on French soil. But this one, having recently discovered her character in Novemberplayed by Lyna Khoudri, filed a complaint at the end of August against the film’s production company.
A veil she never wore
Subject of the dispute: an erroneous representation of his person, namely that Sonia has never actually worn the Islamic veil. Whereas in November his character wears it. According to his lawyer, in remarks reported by the daily Releasethe film shows his client “as bearer of religious convictions and, a fortiori, of a jihadist ideology comparable to that of the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks of November 13, 2015.”
In this procedure, revealed by the JDD on September 12, Sonia therefore demanded the insertion of a warning at the beginning of the film. A warning stating that “the wearing of the Islamic veil by the character of Samia responds to a choice of fiction that does not reflect the personal convictions of the person concerned.” At the end of this procedure, an agreement was reached and the film will therefore be preceded by this warning.
One of the most beautiful roles in the film
A conclusion which therefore satisfied both parties, and which should probably not be detrimental to the exploitation of the film November. But if Sonia – now living under a false identity in the witness protection program – has never worn the veil, why did the production stray from this reality ? For a film that claims an almost documentary fidelity to real facts, the contribution of this fictional element raises questions.
Especially since, like the character played by Kenza Fortas in North ferry, the character of Sonia is one of the most beautiful and accomplished in this excellent film. See you in theaters on October 5, 2022 to discover November.
