- The Statement (novel)
"The Statement" (1995) is a
thriller novel by novelistBrian Moore . Set in the south of France and Paris in the early 1990s, "The Statement" is the tale of Pierre Brossard, a former officer in the pro-Fascist militia which servedVichy France , and a murderer ofJews .Plot summary
Now 70 years old, Brossard has spent the better part of his life in hiding, traveling among the monasteries and abbeys that offer him
asylum . Though he has evaded capture for decades with the help of the French government and theCatholic Church , now a new breed of government officials is determined to break decades of silence and expose and expatriate the crimes of Vichy.Inspiration
"The Statement" is based on the real-life case of
Paul Touvier , a Frenchwar criminal who was also long protected by Church and government officials.Film adaptation
The novel was adapted into a 2003 film directed by
Norman Jewison .Michael Caine appeared as Pierre Brossard, a character inspired by Touvier.
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