How did filmmaker Claire Simon approach the documentary on Annie Ernaux?

Simon chose to focus solely on Ernaux's writing, without featuring the author herself, in order to allow the students' reactions and interpretations to take center stage.

What was Annie Ernaux's reaction to the documentary about her work?

Surprisingly, Ernaux ended up joining filmmaker Claire Simon at the world premiere in Venice, wanting to support the film that celebrated her impactful writing.

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Acclaimed Author's Work Shines in Student-Driven Documentary

Q: What is the documentary "Writing Life - Annie Ernaux Through the Eyes of High School Students" about?

The documentary explores the work of French Nobel Literature Prize winner Annie Ernaux through the perspectives of high school students, who read and discuss her books.

31 Oct

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Summary

Filmmaker Claire Simon explores Nobel Laureate Annie Ernaux's writing through high school students
Students deeply connect with Ernaux's honest, modern style on topics like sexuality and everyday life
Ernaux joins Simon in Venice to support the film, which aims to empower youth in filmmaking

Acclaimed Author's Work Shines in Student-Driven Documentary

In October 2025, filmmaker Claire Simon's documentary "Writing Life - Annie Ernaux Through the Eyes of High School Students" premiered at the Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival. The film explores the work of French Nobel Literature Prize winner Annie Ernaux, but not through the author herself. Instead, Simon chose to focus solely on Ernaux's writing, showing high school students reading and discussing her books.

Simon explains that her goal was to tell Ernaux's story without the author present, allowing the students' reactions and interpretations to take center stage. The young viewers are deeply moved by Ernaux's honest, modern style, particularly her works like "A Girl's Story" that delve into sensitive topics like sexuality. One student remarks that hearing these personal accounts read aloud gives Ernaux's words "so much power."