The book “Les Fossoyeurs” by Victor Castanet soon to be adapted into a TV film on France 2

TELEVISION – From bookstores to the small screen. The book investigates The Gravediggers by Victor Castanet, who denounced mistreatment at the giant private nursing home company Orpea, has inspired a TV film whose filming is due to begin on Thursday with Elodie Bouchez in the lead role, France 2 announced on Wednesday, September 25.

It is the filmmaker Guillaume Nicloux who directed this adaptation, called The banks of the river and whose broadcast date is not yet known.

According to a press release from France Télévisions, the story is as follows: “Alice, a veterinarian in her fifties, is confronted with the mysterious and sudden death of her mother shortly after placing her in a retirement home.”

Et “When her uncle Jacques announces that he is moving into the same residence, the fear of losing him as well acts as a detonator for Alice. She then begins an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her mother’s death and quickly discovers disturbing irregularities within the establishment.”.

Castanet’s book had made Orpea implode

But as she gives up, a journalist appears, “decided to expose the systemic excesses within the group”.

Élodie Bouchez, in the title role, will be surrounded by Didier Flamand, Éric Caravaca, Françoise Lebrun and Sammy Lechea. The filming of this Storia Television (Mediawan) production is taking place in Nouvelle-Aquitaine until October 24.

Released in 2022, The Gravediggers caused Orpea, a giant in the private retirement home sector, to implode. It denounced in detail the mistreatment of residents, the failures in personnel management and the misuse of public funds. The group and former managers are facing legal proceedings.

Victor Castanet has since published a new book, The Ogres (Flammarion), in which he points out the “voracity” of certain groups of private nurseries, combined with the« inaction » public authorities, which according to him have had impacts “dramatic” on the sector and on children.