Delete History (French: Effacer l’historique)
Identical Pictures is pleased to announce that the feature film Delete History (French: Effacer l’historique), partly filmed in Mauritius in August 2019, which it service produced, was awarded a special Silver Bear at this year’s Berlinale in late February 2020. It won a Special Jury Prize, and was well received by audiences and Jury alike.
Three social media victims declare war on the tech giants.
In a provincial suburb, three neighbours come to terms with the consequences of the new world of social media. Marie, who lives off her husband’s family allowance, is afraid of losing her son’s respect because of a sex tape. Bertrand can’t say no to advertising calls and is fighting to protect his daughter, who is being bullied online. Christine, after losing everything because of her addiction to TV series, wonders why her rating as an Uber driver is not taking off.
These three lone fighters are incapable of finding a solution to their problems on their own – until they join forces to declare war on the tech giants. Ostensibly a sitcom, Effacer l’historique captures our 21st century reality in a way few other films have: there is neither history nor are there stories, neither left-wing nor right. Instead of a physical boss who enforces our obedience, an invisible, data-spewing cloud controls us and devours our identities.
This third Berlinale film by Delépine and Kervern is an empathetic tribute to those who are “left behind”, who hold up a mirror to us all and our perceptions of reality.
The Identical Pictures team congratulates the team of Benoit Delepine and Gustav Kervern on this prestigious award.
Delete History – Crew Members
Written and directed by Benoît Delépine, Gustave Kervern
Cinematography – Hugues Poulain
Editing – Stéphane Guillot Elmadjian
Sound – Régis Boussin
Production Design – Philippe Hournon Madphil
Costumes – Agnès Noden
Make-up – Florence Colin
Assistant Director – Gerard Bonnet
Production Manager – Philippe Godefroy, Martine Habermeyer
Producers – Sylvie Pialat, Benoît Quainon, Benoît Delépine, Gustave Kervern
Executive Producer – Andreas Habermeyer
Co-production – France 3 Cinema, Paris | Pictanovo, Tourcoing | Scope Pictures, Brussel
Produced by – Les Films du Worso, France | No Money Productions, France | Identical Pictures, Mauritius
Behind the scenes of “Delete History” (French: Effacer l’historique).
