The Abandon, the last eleven days of Samuel Paty in a thriller closest to reality, presented out of competition at Cannes

The feature film “L’Abandon” examines the chain of events that led to the assassination of a teacher by a radical Islamist in 2020. Produced discreetly over three years, the film was announced by UGC Group on the evening of the appellate court verdict on March 4, 2026.

Vincent Derenq, the director of “L’Abandon,” shared that he initially knew little about the details of the story. The film aims to piece together the events surrounding the tragedy, shedding light on the collective memory of the incident involving a history teacher, a teenage lie, controversial cartoons, a video, and a radicalized Islamist youth.

Based on Stéphane Simon’s investigative book “Les Onze Derniers jours de Samuel Paty” (Plon, 2023) with input from Mickaëlle Paty, the victim’s sister, “L’Abandon” strives for an accurate portrayal of the events leading to the terrorist attack. The film captures the aftermath of a lie told by an adolescent which spirals into a tragedy, highlighting the impact of misinformation and societal pressures.

The film meticulously reconstructs the sequence of events based on judicial procedures and ongoing investigations, aiming for a stark portrayal of reality. It focuses on various characters caught in the tragedy, including Samuel Paty and Bachira, offering different perspectives on the incident.

“L’Abandon” emphasizes the complexity of communal life and the impact of individual decisions within a group, portraying a narrative that blurs the lines between collective and personal abandonment. The film also underscores the refusal to humanize the terrorist character, leaving out dialogues and showing the character in a detached manner.

With intimate camerawork and a narrative closely following the characters, “L’Abandon” offers a reflective portrayal of the tragic events. While inspired by real events, the film maintains a fictional approach to storytelling, allowing a nuanced exploration of the characters’ lives.

The film, directed by Vincent Derenq, stars Antoine Reinartz, Emmanuelle Bercot, and Emma Boumali, and was released in France on May 13, 2026, by UGC Distribution. The movie synopsis delves into Samuel Paty’s final days and the circumstances leading to his untimely death, providing a profound reflection on the tragic incident.