David Baiot Investigates “The Curse of the Lily” in New French TV Movie

This Saturday, June 10, France 3 broadcasts from 9:10 p.m. the TV movie The Curse of the Lily, starring Erika Sainte and David Baiot. Here, the story begins when the body of a property developer and candidate for mayor of Bordeaux is found murdered in his home according to a ritual reserved, two centuries earlier, for fugitive black slaves.

Discovered by his closest friends, all from, like the victim, large Bordeaux families with a troubled past during the slave trade. On site, Clémence Lacoste, a police captain accustomed to the field, pure Bordeaux strain, is forced to team up with Lieutenant Antoine Rosy, Parisian, very elegant, more accustomed to the office than to the field…

To find the killer and stop this series of murders, our two heroes will together discover buried elements of the history of Bordeaux… but above all of their own past and origins. For AlloCiné, David Baiot (who therefore embodies Antoine) returned to this project.

AlloCiné: What did you like about “The Curse of the Lily”?

David Baiot : The historical aspect interested me. We tell the past of Bordeaux where notables have enriched themselves a long time ago by using slaves. We know that today some families are still rich thanks to that money. Some, like some of the characters in the TV movie, try to put a good face on themselves saying they’re inclusive so their money is blood and took innocent lives.

This city has not made peace with its history at all and does not want to talk about it. It’s something that’s quite hidden, unlike a city like La Rochelle which achieved this by assuming that it was a port city that sent slaves to the four corners of the world.

Is it important for you, as an actor and a black man, to participate in projects that convey messages?

Of course, I can’t do otherwise! When I was offered the project, I said to myself ‘Ok, it’s a thriller for France Télévisions but what is the main subject?‘ I find it interesting to be able to participate in this and that afterwards the viewers say to themselves ‘There’s a real purpose here and it’s not just murder yet‘.

As an actor, my goal is to convey certain emotions and for people to learn by having seen a film in which I participated. I’m thinking in particular of Shrimps Sequined which is, of course, a comedy but which brings together subjects as open as they are varied and which make you think. Even in the interpretations that I can have, I try to make the audience put themselves in my character’s shoes.

Your character is a story expert. Did you study for this role?

Yes, no choice! Sometimes I would pull out stuff… I wondered ‘But what does that mean? And who is the Pompadour again?‘ (laughs) I had to do a little digging in order not to arrive and toss out my words as if nothing had happened. We could also count on our director Philippe Niang who is a library all to himself. It’s quite mind-blowing. It’s a super real and a well of science!

How did your collaboration with Erika Sainte go?

I knew her because I had already seen the Crimson Rivers series. I had found it wonderful! And she is indeed a great partner. We spent almost 30 days together, all the time, on the set. Sometimes it may not match even if I imagine that you are not told (laughs) But here it went very well. I hope she says that about me (laughs)

Do you have a special memory of this shoot?

I will especially remember the team. There was real group cohesion and we all moved forward together. I never felt any tension between the teams. We must have had ups and downs because we were a bit tired at times but it was a great shoot from start to finish.