In brief
- The historical feature film “Justin le Juste” will be officially released in cinemas on 23 September 2026.
- Director Éric Barbier carried out location scouting in nearly 400 municipalities in France before choosing Mailly-le-Château.
- Filming mobilised the Yonne municipality for a full month in autumn 2025.
The preserved village of Yonne once again establishes itself as a cinema stronghold in Mailly-le-Château with the filming of “Justin le Juste”, the new feature film by director Éric Barbier, expected in cinemas on 23 September 2026. Following a successful preview in Auxerre on Saturday 5 September, this historical epic starring actor Alban Ivanov lifts the veil on the behind-the-scenes of a meticulous production. This project, which required months of preparation, is part of the great tradition of French period cinema, where the accuracy of the settings and the authenticity of the atmosphere constitute characters in their own right. By choosing the rolling landscapes and architecture of Bourgogne, the production opted for a striking realism, capable of transporting the viewer a century back in time. This demanding approach highlights the richness of the local heritage and demonstrates the capacity of rural territories to attract leading cultural projects.
The quest for a historical setting across France
Finding the ideal setting for a period film is akin to a true historical and technical investigation. The location scouting process for this feature film led the production teams to analyse the characteristics of nearly 400 municipalities in France. The objective was to find a place capable of offering a strong and coherent visual identity. In this quest for perfection, every detail counts: the orientation of the light in autumn, the harmony of the freestone, and above all, the preservation of ancient structures. Most of the villages visited presented contemporary blemishes that were too complex to mask or lacked the spatial configuration essential to the resolution of the plot. It was ultimately in Mailly-le-Château, in the heart of the Yonne department, that the director found this rare gem, meeting the requirements of the script in every way.
A historical epic inspired by the Great War
To set the plot of “Justin le Juste”, a delicate adaptation of Jean Poupagnac’s novel published in 1967, director Éric Barbier required a setting of absolute fidelity to the era of the Great War. This dramatic feature film traces the initiatory journey of a peasant, played by Alban Ivanov, thrown into the turmoil of the trenches without understanding the stakes, before awakening to social consciousness and fighting against injustice. The production thus carried out meticulous location scouting in nearly 400 municipalities before setting its sights on this gem of Yonne. This powerful narrative explores the trauma of a generation and the brutal confrontation between the traditional rural world and the violence of the First World War. The choice of an actor mainly known for his popular roles brings an unexpected sensitivity to this character confronted with the absurdity of the front, offering a look that is both intimate and universal at this pivotal period in history.
Literary adaptation at the heart of the creative process
The adaptation of Jean Poupagnac’s work required highly rigorous writing to transpose the psychological richness of the 1967 novel to the screen. The original text, deeply rooted in the realities of the French peasantry of the early twentieth century, offers dense material. The challenge for the director and his screenwriters was to preserve the moral strength of the novel while dynamising the narrative to meet the codes of contemporary cinema. The journey of Justin, a figure of innocence confronted with barbarism, resonates as a parable on human dignity. To do justice to this trajectory, the camera had to be as close as possible to the faces and settings, capturing the harshness of field work as well as the oppression of crisis situations.
The asset of an intact heritage for cinema in Mailly-le-Château
The architectural heritage of Mailly-le-Château constitutes a real treasure for directors in search of historical authenticity. Unlike many localities that have undergone major urban transformations, this village has managed to preserve its original integrity. The freestone facades, cobbled streets and traditional roofs offer a natural patina that artificial settings cannot reproduce. This exceptional preservation reduces the need for digital effects or temporary constructions, fostering total immersion for the actors and a striking realism for the image. By choosing this site, the production found a unique creative space, where the past seems to have frozen to offer the seventh art a living witness of rural history.
Mailly-le-Château, a preserved aesthetic setting
The choice of Mailly-le-Château met extremely precise aesthetic specifications, dictated by the film’s script. For the final sequence, centred around a dramatic hostage-taking, the staging required a village square characterised by a unique spatial configuration: the church directly facing the town hall, ideal for setting up the headquarters of the military forces responsible for surrounding the insurgents. Beyond this perfect geometric layout, the municipality appeals due to the almost total absence of contemporary visual pollution, such as concrete poles, thus preserving the historical authenticity essential to the narrative. This absence of modern elements, such as visible overhead wiring, greatly facilitated the work of the technical teams. The steep topography of the municipality also gives the film remarkable visual depth, reinforcing the dramatic tension of the confrontation scenes.
The economic and cultural impact on the Yonne territory
Hosting a film production of this scale represents a major opportunity for local development and the promotion of the territory. During the weeks of preparation and the full month of filming in autumn 2025, economic activity in the municipality and the surrounding area experienced a remarkable boost. Accommodating dozens of technicians, actors and members of the logistics team mobilised the region’s accommodation. Similarly, local shops and restaurateurs were called upon daily to meet the needs of the production. Beyond these direct financial benefits, hosting the shoot reinforces the tourist appeal of Yonne, positioning the department as a preferred host region for cinema. This visibility attracts heritage enthusiasts, curious to discover the real-life settings of their favourite films.
Scenographic work hand in hand with the municipality
For a month, during autumn 2025, the film crews took over the village in an atmosphere of exceptional collaboration. The filmmaker highlights the crucial involvement of the former mayor, Jean-Michel Godefroy, whose term ended in March 2026. Under his leadership, the municipality granted total freedom to the artistic teams to temporarily modify the appearance of the location. The town hall’s paintwork was reworked, period shutters installed and sections of walls entirely built to perfect the scenography of this high-tension climax. This close partnership between artistic creation and local management demonstrates the importance of a shared vision for the success of such projects. The technical teams took great care to scrupulously respect the integrity of public and private buildings, committing to restoring the locations to their original state while leaving a memorable mark on the history of the municipality.
The successful immersion of local extras
The active participation of the local population was one of the pillars of this cinematic adventure. To bring the crowd scenes to life and recreate the village community of the time, the production called on many local residents to act as extras. This local recruitment process generated great enthusiasm, offering residents the unique opportunity to discover what goes on behind the scenes. Dressed in meticulously reconstructed period costumes, with hair and make-up styled according to the historical standards of the late Belle Époque, the extras eagerly stepped into the shoes of their ancestors. Their presence on screen brings an irreplaceable authenticity to the collective scenes, transforming each crowd shot into a living painting of great emotional power.
A human adventure shared with the residents
This cinematic adventure also made it possible to forge strong bonds with the village residents, who were widely involved as extras. During the preview organised in Auxerre on Saturday 5 September 2026, the emotion was palpable among the participants, proud to see their heritage showcased on the big screen. This special screening brought together the film crew, local elected officials and residents in an atmosphere of collective celebration, marking the culmination of a long-term effort. For the general public, the wait is coming to an end: the official release in cinemas is scheduled for Wednesday 23 September 2026, promising to make this unique setting shine far beyond the borders of Bourgogne. This project will leave a lasting mark on the memory of Mailly-le-Château, testifying to the successful encounter between history, heritage preservation and contemporary artistic creation.
