France, documentary, 58 mn, IO productions and France 3 Limoges, 2000.
Deported to Auschwitz by convoy no. 36 in September 1942,
Here he is, this child in the center of the image who does not hold the hand of his parents too busy to support the little ones.
He is placed exactly between them, standing, his gaze fixed in the photographer’s lens.
A smile is not appropriate; the photo captures a state: this image is a portrait of the Bercau family. The father, mother, and four children.
To maintain his position during the exposure time required by the photo, Marcel positioned himself (where he was asked to stand) with his forearms resting on his parents' thighs.
Imperceptibly, he lets himself go towards his mother on whom he relies more strongly.
He must be 7 or 8 years old, not much older. His dark gaze, his frown, his attitude give the impression of a child ready to pounce when forced to keep a particularly painful position... Maybe he also wants to give the image of a confident, serious, focused child? ... of a future adult? ... does the pose last too long? ... his support on his mother’s knee becomes heavier and ties him back to childhood.
Of the six characters in the photo, only Marcel survived.
In the presence of director
