The antechamber of his political commitment
At the end of the 1890s, this affair tore France apart, marking a turning point in the destiny of Léon Blum and in French political life. This is the major event of his youth. He decides to put himself at the service of a man unjustly condemned and promotes the values that are dear to him: respect for justice and the dignity of the Republic. Alfred Dreyfus is then the perfect culprit, the ideal bad Frenchman for the reactionary and anti-Semitic movement of the extreme right, which afflicts the Jews with all the ills of the regime.
Philippe Collin invites you to discover what lessons Léon Blum draws from this affair since this Dreyfusard fight becomes the antechamber of his entry into politics, the decisive event by which he intends to defend the republican state against reactionary authoritarianism. The origins of his political and socialist commitment.
A salutary meeting with Jaurès: a vocation, socialism
The case allows him to meet Jean Jaurès whose cause he embraces by committing himself to the voice of reformist and republican socialism. He attended the unification of French socialism (SFIO) in 1905.
The opportunity to question the extent of the role played by Jaurès on the young Parisian Léon Blum of the beginning of the XXᵉ who definitely took a liking to politics. The death of his spiritual father on July 31, 1914 led him to commit himself for the rest of his life, taking over the socialist heritage of Jaurès in the light of the Sacred Union.
Speakers
Pierre Birnbaumhistorian, professor emeritus at the University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne, biographer of Léon Blum, author of “Leon Blum, a portrait” (Seuil, 2016)
Pascal Oryhistorian, specialist in cultural history, member of the French Academy, he directed the reissue of “Du mariage de Léon Blum” (Books, 2021)
Frederic Salat-Barouxsenior civil servant, lawyer, author of “Blum the magnificent” (L’Observatoire, 2021).
Dominique Missikahistorian, editor, author of “Thérèse, the great hidden love of Léon Blum” (Alma editor, 2016) and of “I promise you to come back, Léon Blum’s last fight” (Robert Laffont, 2009, republished 2012 and 2020 )
Crew
Story and production: Philippe Collin
Directed by: Violaine Ballet
Readings: Charles Berling and Bérengère Warluzel
Editorial assistance: Irène Menahem
Sound documentation: Frédérique Martin and Romain Couturier
Mixing: Benjamin Orgeret
References
Movies
- All right by Marcel Bluwal, 2008
- The Dreyfus Affairby Yves Boisset, 1997
- I accuse by Roman Polanski, 2019
- The dawn barricade by Rene Richon, 1978
- Therese and Leon by Claude Goretta, 2001
- The great Maulnes by Jean Daniel Verhaeghe, 2006
- The Thibaultsby JC Carrière, Joelle Goron and JD Verhaeghe, 2003
- Trousersby Yves Boisset, 1997
songs
- Come on Leon lyrics: Monthéhus, music: Chantegrelet
Archives
- André Gide on the Dreyfus Affair. Interview of Jean AMROUCHE with André GIDE, RDF/RTF, January 1949
- Léon Blum “Resolution, courage and fidelity. Excerpt from the speech of May 10, 1936
- Madeleine Ribeyrioux: portrait of Lucien Herr. Places of memoryENS, France Culture, September 1, 1997
- Barrès: account of the degradation of Dreyfus. Spectral analysis of the West.France Culture, November 21, 1967
- Jean Jaurès talks about Dreyfus. Fiction: Jean Jaurès life and death of a socialist. A2, October 9, 1980
- Léon Blum: tribute to Jean Jaurès. Jean Jaurès’ birthday ceremony at the Panthéon, July 31, 1947
- The Globe Congress. Fiction: Jaurès, birth of a giant, A2, April 25, 2005
- Evelyne Sulerot: about “Du Mariage”. Tribute to Léon Blum: 100th anniversary. France Inter, April 5, 1972
- The attack on Jaures. Fiction: Jean Jaurès life and death of a socialist, A2, October 9, 1980
- Georges Weil, the witness of the attack against Jean Jaurès. Fifty years ago, Jaurès, RTF/ORTF, July 30, 1964
Museum
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