Airing this fall on France 2, the historical series Seeds of Change, which follows the codes of sagas spanning several decades, revisits a pivotal period in French history, preceding the Commune, through a family story and complex characters. Louis Grangé, producer of the series at Storia Television , and Randall Broman, directeur of international fiction sales at Mediawan Rights, talk about the main ingredients that have enabled the series to win the loyalty of French audiences and that should also have a resonance beyond our borders.
Unifrance: Why did you choose to adapt Françoise Bourdon's novel, Le mas des Tilleuls?
Louis Grangé: First of all, we wanted to rediscover the codes of the great historical and family sagas. Françoise Bourdon's novel is at once romantic, ambitious, and touching, and describes 19th century Provence with an astonishing precision and sincerity. From the first pages of the book, you are there!
Moreover, the book deals with complex characters, with multiple issues, with their share of humanity, and their share of vice, too. It features strong female characters in the 19th century, who fight for their independence in a very patriarchal world. These numerous characters face dilemmas, and portray values that appealed to us.
Finally, the social and political framework is exciting. We are on the eve of the Paris Commune, which corresponds to a republican impulse, an uprising of the people against the power in place. And Seeds of Change speaks of the fights that our ancestors led for rights that are inalienable today. It speaks of solidarity, democracy, and sacrifices in the name of freedom.
This period mini-series in six episodes features a remarkable cast. How did you bring together the cast and artistic team around the project?
LG: I think that this desire to rediscover the codes of the summer saga, where passions are unleashed and the stakes are so romantic, aroused the interest and desire of the entire cast. Actors of the calibre of Philippe Torreton, Hélène De Fougerolles, and Constance Dollé were able, I think, to express themselves in this story, as they can do in the theater performing iconic roles. The cast understood as soon as they read the script the ambitious scope of the production.
Éléonore Faucher, who wrote the script and directed the series, is known for her seriousness, precision, and total dedication to her projects. Since her nomination for the César for Best First Film [for Brodeuses], and I know that some actors wanted to work with her.
The series was broadcast on France 2 at the end of August. what were the first reactions?
LG: Overall, the initial feedback could be summed up in this sentence: "It's a real tonic!" We heard this a lot. I think that people were happy to experience this sweeping story in the natural settings of the South, in a genre that allows more time to be taken in the narration, which reconnects with nature, the land, and which shifts away from the thriller, or the darker detective story, where everything happens very fast.
What struck us about the series' ratings is that we didn't lose any viewers over the three weeks of broadcast. The last episodes even tallied more people than at the beginning! As we hoped, by redeploying the codes of the soap opera, the series became a regular rendezvous for viewers. They loved the characters, the settings, and stayed until the end to find out what would happen next!
Would you like to share an anecdote about the shoot with us?
LG: The story takes place over several decades, and over the four seasons of the year. We had to shoot many winter scenes in the middle of summer. I remember a sequence at the Mas des Tilleuls, where Hélène de Fougerolles is standing in front of a fireplace, bundled up as if in winter, while the whole crew was wearing shorts. She was sweating and had to pretend to be shivering from the cold. In the end, the sequence works well, but there were a few laughs during the takes!
What makes this series unique? What are its strengths that will appeal to an international audience?
LG: It's a series that tells the story of one of the most beautiful regions of France. It's a journey through sublime settings, where lavender fields rub shoulders with vineyards. The landscapes, costumes, and settings are sure to attract international viewers.
Moreover, it's a universal story, which speaks of family, love, sacrifice, the fight for democracy, and where the themes addressed necessarily have an international impact. The series also allows us to discover actors who are very well known in France and who, we hope, will be able to reach a large audience.
Randall Broman : The international audience always appreciates a beautiful family saga, especially a historical one, and with Seeds of Change we really have all the ingredients to please. There are all kinds of intrigues, love, jealousy, betrayal, all in the idyllic setting of Provence, a region well known and loved throughout the world.
Seeds of Change is at the beginning of its international journey and will be presented at MIPCOM in October. Are you targeting specific territories or broadcasters?
RB: Yes, for quality historical sagas of this kind, we immediately think of Italy, Spain, even some Eastern European countries or even Latin America, targeting the major clients of these markets. This series also has the great advantage of being able to attract both linear clients and platforms.
