The Lost Boys of Mercury

A documentary film by Clémence Davigo

---

106 minutes / Documentary / 2023

Production : Alter Ego / Lyon Capitale TV
Avec la participation de Tënk et de Mediapart
International distribution and sales: Andana Films

with the screenwriting support of CNC-FAIA
with the development support of Procirep-Angoa, Alca-Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, Ciclic-Centre-Val de Loire Region and CNC-FAIA
with the production supports of Procirep-Angoa, CNC-FSA, Ciclic-Centre-Val de Loire Region and Alca-New Aquitaine Region

---

As children in the 50s to the 70s, Dédé, Michel and Daniel were sent to the Belle Étoile correctional facility run by the abbot Garin and located in the Savoie region of France. There, they were beaten, humiliated, starved and broken. With the help of director Clémence Davigo, they finally reunite to break their silence. A moving chronicle in search of memory and justice.

Festival awards :

• Festival International du Film d’Education | France, 2023 – Best Feature-Length Documentary
• Festival du cinéma social de Nice | France, 2023 – Main Prize
• Festival Traces de Vies | France, 2023 – Social Awareness Award
• Festival Psy de Lorquin | France, 2024 – The Golden Key, First Prize at the Festival
• Faito Doc Festival | Italy, 2024 – Best Feature Film Award, Youth Jury
• Festival du Film Social | France, 2025 – Main Prize

Festival selections :

• Visions du Réel, 2023 | International competition – Switzerland
• IDFA, 2023 | Best of Fests – The Netherlands
• Festival Dei Popoli, 2023 | Italy
• Etats généraux du film documentaire, 2023 | Special sessions - France
• Festival International du Film de La Roche-sur-Yon, 2023 | Perspectives – France
• Ulaanbaatar International Film Festival, 2023 | Mongolia
• Rencontres du cinéma francophone en Beaujolais, 2023 | France
• Kasseler DokFest, 2023 | Germany
• Filmpodium, 2023 | Switzerland
• FIPADOC, 2024 | National Competition – France
• Ramdam Festival, 2024 | Belgium
• KODEX Documentary Film Festival, 2024 | Germany
• Journées Cinéma et Psychiatrie de Lyon, 2024 | France
• Festival Doc-Cévennes, 2024 | France
• Festival Psy Lorquin, 2024 | France
• Les rencontres du Réel, Bergerac, 2024 | France
• Festival Concertina, Dieulefit, 2024 | France
• Les rencontres du film documentaire de Mellionnec, 2024 | France
• Les Percéides, 2024 | Canada
• Les Rencontres Ad Hoc, 2024 | France
• Etats Généraux du film documentaire, 2025 | Stories of Emancipation – France
• Festival du Film Social, 2025 | France

Press:

• Press Kit: PDF
• Press Reviews: PDF