This Wednesday, March 15, “Black Desire” is released, a collection by Anne-Sophie Jahn on the tragic disappearance of Marie Trintignant. The author returns to the circumstances of the meeting with her executioner Bertrand Cantat and the way in which she left her husband Samuel Benchetrit to begin her love story with him.
A few months before his death, caused by the blows of Bertrand Cantat, Marie Trintignantgreat actress married to the actor Samuel Benchetrit, with whom she has a son named Jules, tells him of her intention to separate from him. This rupture, Anne-Sophie Jahn returns to it in more detail in the pages of her book Black Desire, published this Wednesday, March 15 by Flammarion editions. At the time, the daughter of Nadine and Jean-Louis Trintignant don’t expect to have one love at first sight for Bertrand Cantat, leader of Noir Désir, whom she met during a concert in preparation for her role as Janis Joplin. Their connection takes place thanks to Anne, friend of Marie and sister of Bertrand Cantatto whom she confesses her love at first sight.
For Marie Trintignant, this love story seems obvious. Director Pierre Salvadori explained it to Anne-Sophie Jahn: “She had met him and she had decided to leave Samuel. It didn’t surprise me. She was unable to stay with a man for the wrong reasons. This meeting had upset her and she was very much in love.“Marie Trintignant, still officially in a relationship with Samuel, also confides that she cannot have it both ways. “Marie explained to me that she was unable to deceive someone because she had too bad a memory and that she would never manage to remember her lies and therefore to have two lovers.“It was in 2002 that she put an end to their marriage so that she no longer had to hide with Bertrand Cantat.
Samuel Benchetrit does not hold her back, aware that he could not do much to go against the feelings of the mother of his son: “Samuel remained very discreet. They seemed to get on well.” Until the end, Marie and Samuel remained on good terms. So much so that they were still shooting together. One of the last text messages that Samuel Benchetrit sent him, today happy with Vanessa Paradiswould also have triggered the black anger of Bertrand Cantat and the fatal blows he gave him in Vilnius.
An unforgettable drama
Despite their story of a year and a half, Bertrand Cantat is wary of Marie Trintignant’s relationship with her exes and fathers of his children. In an excess of rage and jealousy, the singer slaps the actress hard in their hotel room in Vilnius, Lithuania, where Marie plays under the leadership of her mother Nadine for the TV movie Colette.
The actress falls unconscious on the ground before Bertrand Cantat installs her in her bed. It is to Samuel Benchetrit that he delivers his first phone call after the tragedy. The latter advises him to contact Vincent, Marie’s brother. If he arrives without being aware of the urgency at stake, Bertrand Cantat is slow to call for help. Repatriated to France, Marie Trintignant died on August 1, 2003, despite the intervention of surgeon Stéphane Delajoux. Then follows a long trial of Bertrand Cantat, accused, tried and convicted of having killed the actress. He is free today.