We were in a tourist boat that was taking us around the Baie des Canebiers in St Tropez. The guide was waving over at La Ponche beach where Et Dieu… Créa La Femme was filmed.
She said: “When it was released in 1956, French women did not like the movie. They didn’t like Bardot. They said she talked too much, said what she thought too much. Also, she was too beautiful for them! They were jealous!”
Bardot was born in Paris, but used to go to St Tropez with her parents when she was a child because they had a house there. She was very young when she did that movie and it changed her life forever.
The New Wave ’59 to ’63 was a liberating movement in the world of French cinema.
In Et Dieu… Créa La Femme, said the guide, Vadim introduced the theme of female emancipation, both moral and sexual, and Bardot carried it off with insouciance and a perfect French melancholy.
“St Tropez was a brilliant setting for this moment of folly; the traditional village became the city of all desires,” she said, brushing blown hair out of her eyes.
“She was like Marmite,” said the guide. “She was an incredible actress because she was so natural on screen – just like she was in real life. She shot many many movies between ’52 and ’73 and then she suddenly stopped and dedicated her life to the protection of animals.”
She waved over at a white house with blue shutters on the sea. It was La Madrague, Bardot’s retreat.
According to the guide, the French hated the recluse as much as they had the siren.
I asked if she’d ever seen Bardot and she clutched herself. “I saw her – she’s wonderful. I was driving in the lanes over there,” she pointed to the promontory. “She was driving towards me. I waved and she waved back!”
She clutched her heart and said: “I was so happy I was crazy!”
Find out more about the Bardot effect at the Gendarmerie Nationale in St-Trop which has been converted into a museum.
Great account Rachel and a lovely photo of you and the youngsters. Xx