Je Suis Charlie (L'humor a mort)

The January 7, 2015 assault by Islamic extremists on the editorial offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which left 11 staff members and a policeman dead, along with several other staff members wounded, led to an outpouring of support for free expression throughout the West and massive demonstrations in Paris. Daniel and Emmanuel Leconte's documentary is a follow-up of sorts to Daniel's previous film Tough Being Loved by Jerks (VL-7/15), an examination of the 2007 trial in which the magazine had been accused of violating laws against hate speech by printing cartoons of Muhammad. Je Suis Charlie—titled after the signature phrase used by those who filled the streets in a show of solidarity following the massacre—recounts the 2015 tragedy through news footage, coupled with wrenching interviews of survivors, including Corrine “Coco” Rey, who was forced at gunpoint to open the door to the office. They express thanks for the outpouring of support that the public, intellectuals, and politicians showed in the immediate aftermath, even as staff worked tirelessly to produce the next issue for its regular publication day (it immediately sold out). But they also note ruefully that within days of the shooting an article appeared in a rival publication that accused them—and especially two of the dead, editor-in-chief Stéphane “Charb” Charbonnier and cartoonist Jean “Cabu” Cabut (shown here in a haunting earlier interview)—of having incited the assault. The film—which gives no publicity to the assailants—also emphasizes that the policeman killed in the shooting was Muslim, and it closes with a moving tribute to the victims that includes samples of their work, home movies, and recollections from colleagues. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)