Whether it was during the national tribute or at the church of St Germain des Prés, the emotion was at the rendezvous. The public went to Esplanade des Invalides Thursday afternoon to pay a final tribute to the artist. Inside, family and close friends were able to attend the farewell speech of the President of the Republic.
FAREWELL THE ARTIST!
Whether it was during the national tribute or at the church of St Germain des Prés, the emotion was at the rendezvous. The public went to Esplanade des Invalides Thursday afternoon to pay a final tribute to the artist. Inside, family and close friends were able to attend the farewell speech of the President of the Republic.
In the evening, from 7:30 p.m. and late at night, thousands of fans were able to pay Jean-Paul Belmondo a last farewell and leave a message in the guestbook.
Friday 10, a mass was held in the church of St Germain-des-Prés before the cremation at Père-Lachaise. Jean-Paul Belmondo will rest in the family vault in the Montparnasse cemetery.
National tribute to the Invalides
The family attended this tribute in the courtyard of the Invalides where the Republican Guard had carried the coffin covered with the tricolor flag.
The President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron and his wife paid tribute to the « Professional » Thursday afternoon at the Invalides. Many political figures and the world of cinema were present to express their sorrow and the void it will leave in the world of culture.We noted the presence of 3 ministers of culture: Roselyne Bachelot, Franck Riestler and Jack Lang but also former president François Hollande and his partner Julie Gayet as well as Jean Castex and Eric Dupont-Moretti. Thierry Frémaux (President of the Cannes Film Festival), Costa Garvas, Richard Anconina, Jean Dujardin and Nathalie Péchalat, Michel Boujenah, Marion Cotillard and Guillaume Canet, Gilles Lellouche, Arielle Domballes, Patrick Bruel, Laurent Gerra, Patrick Chesnais or Bob Sinclar represented the entertainment world. On the presenters side, Michel Drucker, Cyrille Hanouna, Christophe Dechavanne, Karine Le Marchand, ….
Outside, giant screens were installed so that the crowd could follow this last tribute.
A coincidence with the ceremony at the Invalides, the Patrouille de France flew over Paris around 7 p.m. Some thought it was a tribute to « Bébel ». But such was not the case since it was about a theft to support the association « Imagine for Margo » which acts for the research of pediatric cancers.
Speech by Victor Belmondo
Victor, grandson of the actor, comedian himself took the floor to commemorate his grandfather. Surrounded by his brothers, sisters and cousins as well as his aunt Stella, he delivered a very moving speech, sobs in his voice.
« Throughout his life, he has never ceased to seek happiness, but above all to give it. Both to his family and to all the others. Through his films, but also because he has been and will remain: a sun. The sun does not go out. It shines. It radiates everywhere, all the time. When it goes down somewhere, it wakes up elsewhere. And our grandfather radiates us and he will radiate us everywhere with his smile, his kindness, his extreme benevolence: he is an eternal sun …. « Thank you papi for giving us so much joy. Thank you for sharing your positivity so much. You leave us filled with this immense happiness. We think of you, we love you. And have fun with your friends who you missed so much « .
President’s eulogy
President Macron delivered the eulogy after the speech by the artist’s grandson. Very moved, he returned to the personality and roles of the actor. « We love Belmondo because he looked like us » … He married France « …. » Dear Jean-Paul, losing you is losing part of our lives. « … » Belmondo, c ‘is a little better us « , » he was of the family « , he declared. Not forgetting to quote the films in which he distinguished himself, he added: » Goldsmith performer, outstanding stuntman, flying over Venice attached to a helicopter-borne trapeze in Le « Guignolo », taming a wild tiger in « The Animal », walking suspended on a steel wire between two buildings in « Un homme à Rio », but still there « , » Cop, thug, always magnificent « , he added before concluding » Adieu Bébel « .
Two verses of the Marseillaise accompanied the release of the coffin. Then the Republican Guard orchestra performed “Chi Mai” by Ennio Morricone, the soundtrack of the film “The Professional”, to the applause of the audience and the crowd outside.
Funeral in St Germain-des-Près church
After the national homage to the Invalides, the family of the « Magnifique » organized a religious ceremony in the church of St Germain des Prés (75006) in the presence of relatives. However, admirers of the artist were present outside.
Just like the day before, French cinema was at the rendezvous, in particular his friend Alain Delon, accompanied by his son Anthony. The star, very smiling, arrived with a crutch in hand, which did not take away the smile. On his arrival, the crowd applauded and cheered him.
Other personalities were there, just like Claude Lellouch, also absent at the Invalides but also Michel Drucker, Pierre Richard also on a crutch, Jean Dujardin, his old friend Pierre Vernier, Béatrice Dalle, Véronique Jeannot, Bérénice Béjo, Thierry Frémaux or again Luis Fernandez, former PSG coach. Thomas Dutronc, Francis Huster, Paul-Lou Sulitzer, boxer Brahim Asloum and Daniel Lauclair also made the trip. A noticeable absence, that of Catherine Deneuve who was her partner in « La sirène du Mississipi ».
Ceremony
The hearse arrived around 10 a.m. on the church square, greeted by applause. The coffin then entered the church, followed by family members. The ceremony lasted almost 2 hours. Victor, son of Paul and Luana Belmondo, spoke as the day before during the tribute paid to the Invalides. He even mentioned an anecdote about the coffin. « Even today you are playing jokes on us, » he exclaimed before bursting into tears at the end. Indeed, the coffin almost got stuck in the elevator, according to comments reported to the Parisian. Director Claude Lellouch then asked the audience for a standing ovation. « We must be happy today, because Jean-Paul is there for eternity ».
On leaving the church, the coffin received the applause of the crowd before heading to the Père-Lachaise cemetery for cremation and then buried in the Montparnasse cemetery, in the family vault near his father, the sculptor Paul Belmondo, his mother and daughter Patricia.
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