Marinette Pichon draws the thread of her life in a biopic

Marinette Pichon was and still is today, more than 16 years after she hung up her crampons and put away her number 9 shirt, one of the greatest and most talented French and international footballers. During her career, she scored 300 goals and was the record holder for number of goals and selections for the French men’s and women’s team. It was at the Club Saint-Memmie Olympique, in the Marne, that she made her debut, before she became the first professional French player.

>> The film “Marinette”, premiered in Abbeville, traces the life of the first French star of women’s football

She played in the United States until the collapse of the American Football League, twice collecting the titles of the best player in the world’s top league and the best forward and scorer. Upon her return, she became champion of France with the Juvisy club before withdrawing and expressing her anger at the lack of consideration and means for women’s football. Indeed, their status obliges women to work in parallel with their training and therefore with their competitions. She has since become a consultant, married a disabled basketball champion, welcomed a child and became the second woman in France to take paternity leave. In May 2018 she published an autobiography: Never let go published by First and this Wednesday, June 7, 2023, the biopic inspired by his life and directed by Virginie Verrier is released: Marinette. Interview.

franceinfo: How does it feel to have your story told on the big screen?

Marinette Pichon: The first time is quite tricky because you get all your emotions back and it’s really an emotional lift. When we see all the hardships we’ve had to go through, I say “we” because my mother and sister are associated with this, I say to myself: I hope this helps. And when I get a chance to discuss with people in the room, there are many who identify with this journey on a particular point or a particular theme. So I’m happy because that was the goal.

This biopic is a projection of your autobiography, Never let go. Looking closely, football has allowed you to consolidate your family, which means to keep the strongest elements that were important to you. You expelled your abusive father who beat your mother and raped your grandmother. We understand how much you have a mind of steel…

This is the story of his life. He has never regretted anything despite the hell he put us through. And he never regretted not telling us he loved us. And when you look for it… well, that was really hard.

My father deserved his ten years in prison, the courts decided and it was important for my mother, my grandmother, my sister and me to be recognized as victims.

Marinette Pichon

on franceinfo

You start playing football at the age of five. Where does this shot come from, this love at first sight?

I think it comes because I hear, in that moment, so many joyful, happy children who talk and shout in all directions. And I, in the end, at home, didn’t have the chance to experience such an atmosphere. So I was drawn to that. I took my mother’s hand. And then, at the first contact with the ball, everything happens naturally. Not everyone liked it, but here I was like, oh I’m down there and there, I can express myself without being repressed and I think that’s really cool.

There is one club that will suddenly offer you to take a test, it is Saint-Memmie Olympique. She will also be a huge crush on the coach. He understands very quickly that you are made for this.

YES. And his approach, the first time, was but where does he come from? She is very small, she can run faster than the girls, she hits harder and Régine looked at me and said: “But she is an alien“. I think she sees the potential that I have. But me, I’m far from all of that. Me, I’m on the pitch, I’m having fun and that’s all that matters at that moment.

What’s going on in your head? Because already a child at school you said to your teachers: “Anyway, I’m not interested in school, I want to become a professional footballer“and every time, you were answered:”It’s not a job“.

It was in my head. It was a goal, but it wasn’t confirmed, it will depend on many things. But I’ve always had this possibility in the corner of my head to go and play at the highest levels. And when it happens, I say to myself: enough, it’s done. I even remember sending a note to my teacher: “Well, well see, I’m in the United States and then I make a little living from soccer!“

Going to the United States is a difficult time for you…

What’s complicated right now is that I’m in an extremely comfortable situation. I’m the treasure, I score goals, I’m fine, I have my job, I have my sport. And in fact, making the leap there, even if fabulous, remains complicated. I cried for a month and a half every night on the phone with my mother. I felt like I wasn’t up to it. Again it’s my mom who comes back and she puts some pressure on me saying, “No, but still, you’ll be staying for a year no matter what, so as long as you fit in well and have fun“. I hang up and the next day I wake up in mode”america belongs to me“!

What does football represent for you?

Football clearly represents my way out of this family hell that I didn’t talk about, because I was ashamed.

Marinette Pichon

on franceinfo

It represents everything. The good times, the bad times. Football has made me a woman, a better daughter to my mother, a better friend, a good wife and a good mother. All the values ​​of football have made me the woman I am today.