[excerpts] [sophie says about] [critics] [links]

        The book "Menteuse" ("Liar"), a semi-autobio- graphical novel, is the first Sophie Marceau's book. It took a four years to write and published by editorship Stock in 1996 with 211 pages. REaders follow the progress of a young actress as she travels to Cannes and America, and as she reflects on her childhood. Book is now out of print and I have not seen it, but it is supposed to be available in France, maybe in some other European countries, too. You can win this book on the page Belles de Jour 2: Sophie Marceau.
 
 

        "To see yourself tossed about like a sack without feeling shame, to let yourself be mauled by rough hands that press into your flesh, which abuse it purposely for their own pleasure... desire becomes one with submission, you must humiliate or be humiliated, throw aside good manners and mutual respect, you must sweat, pant, moan and spread yourself wide open. Pleasure is dirty. Adults are unafraid to demean themselves - after all, they are already ugly."

        "The first time, I said nothing. Afterwards, I looked at myself naked, alone in the bathroom. I was bleeding. I said nothing to my mother, to anyone. It was my fault, it wasn't pleasant but we all have to grow up. No-one had said anything to me either, and I accepted the betrayal. Ready to be served up again, that's how I felt..."

        "I looked at my body in the mirror, stubborn in the silence. I didn't cry. I still think about it today. I have thought about it very often."
 

About their writer possibilities:
        "I don't know how to tell a story, but rather lots of little stories. I know how to observe things around me. I took four years to write this little thing."

It's very autobiographical.
        "More or less. I felt free to switch between truth and fiction. There are some totally fictional passages that I tell in the first person; other events have been completely altered. In fact, most of the things in the book never happened. Because I've chosen to say "I", people are going to believe that it's all true - but I never wanted to tell my life story. What a horrible thought!"
 
Are you afraid of the critics?
        "Yes, very much so. More than for a film, because I alone am responsible."
 

        She's certainly a nice girl, Sophie Marceau, more natural and unaffected than the average, sometimes even a good actress (in Pialat's Police, for example). Unfortunately, our crazy times have led her to believe that anyone can write a book. So she said to herself: why not me? She hasn't read any contemporary French authors (she said so herself in Paris Match), but so what! It's enough to scribble down a few observations, without humour or style, and to tell your life story in the first person. If you're famous, there'll always be enough suckers to buy it. Doubtless, Sophie Marceau is unaware of the words of Gombrowicz: "Writing is very easy, that's why it's very difficult."

        Sorry: one can't just become a writer overnight. Our two favourite Marceaus are still Félicien (the author of Creezy) and the mime (he, at least, said nothing).

        Quite good and interesting book, but sometimes difficult to understand.