Fifteen years on, a moving documentary looks back on the 26th of May 1993 ("the day that Europe spoke like in Marseille") the irresistable, unrational passion of OM and finishes up with a cathartic look at the VA-OM scandal. Shown on Saturday on France 3.
« Forever the first, OM’s Odyssee » is a documentary that could be a declaration of love. Never before has OM and the unbelievable passion that surrounds them been so well described. It’s all about the most important 10 days in the history of the club, from Valenciennes-OM to OM-PSG with a diversion by the Final of the European Cup against Milan, Gilles Perez & Gilles Rof’s film is first and foremost an extraordinary succession of memories from anonymous supporters, specialists, artists, journalists, players and directors on the impact of the club in Marseille. From all horizons. Strong words but very perspicacious, each one hits home.
The avant-premier took place at the Thétre de la Criée on Thursday night, the documentary touched everybody present. There is laughter at the exuberance. We shiver when Franck Sauzée talks of the looks given to the Milan players in the tunnel leading to the pitch at the Olympic Stadium. We smile when he tells of Fabien Barthez falling asleep in the bus before the game, before forgetting his gloves …
There is a slight tear in our eye when we see amateur images of the joy on the Vieux-Port on the 26th of May. We feel proud at the memory of Marseille’s revenge over the prejudices.
We cry as well over the disaster of VA-OM. As the authors did not want to hide the trip to hell after the ascension to heaven. « It’s a way of exorcising the period. It’s a way of bringing the affair back to normal proportions », explains Gilles Perez, the director.
« That summer, there was a war in Bosnia, a terrible crisis in Somalia, but it didn’t matter all the news programmes were talking about OM … », states the Sociologist Christian Bromberger.
Present at the projection and asked up on stage after it, Eric Di Méco, the definitive “marseillais” of the European Champions, underlined the quality of the film. He insisted on the strength of the image that Marseille gave off. « It should be shown to every new player that arrives at the club so they can see how big it is and what it means to people », he says, admitting his pleasure at seeing his OM so honoured. A pleasure that was shared by all. And one that we hope will continue on Satrurday throughout France when it is shown on France 3.
A documentary by Gilles Perez and Gilles Rof (90 minutes)
A coproduction of Treize au Sud and France 3 Méditerranée
PROGRAMME TIME : SATURDAY 24th OF MAY
At 15h50 on France 3 Méditerranée
At 0h40 on France 3 National
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