“Do you know the difference between cinema and television? In cinema, celebrities play anonymous people, on television, anonymous people become celebrities.” This insightful quote from French writer Aurélien Bellanger, from his 2021 novel “Téléréalité,” perfectly captures the essence of the reality TV phenomenon that captivated France in the early 2000s. Now, over two decades later, this story is brought to life on the small screen in “Culte,” a fictional series created and written by Matthieu Rumani and Nicolas Slomka, and directed by Louis Farge.
The series serves as a fascinating journey back in time, taking viewers behind the scenes of “Loft Story,” the very first French reality show that debuted in April 2001. For those who remember, it was a groundbreaking event that forever changed the face of French television.
“Culte” focuses on the arrival of reality TV in France, offering a captivating glimpse into the backstage drama and cultural impact of this unprecedented wave. Set to premiere on Prime Video on October 18th, the series features a cast of talented actors, including Anaïde Rozam, César Domboy, Sami Outalbali, and Marie Colomb, who portrays Loana Petrucciani, the winner of the first season of “Loft Story.”
Once again, the phrase “Inventing stars whose job is to be anonymous” isn’t ours, but rather belongs to Aurélien Bellanger. This underlines the profound impact of his novel “Téléréalité,” which resonated deeply within a society grappling with the emergence of reality TV in France. Over two decades after its debut, reality TV is showing signs of fatigue and prompting deeper reflection. Numerous books delve into the social dynamics it fosters, such as “Téléréalité: la fabrique du sexisme” by Valérie Rey-Robert (Les Insolentes, 2022) and “Vivre pour les caméras” by Constance Vilanova (JC Lattès, 2024). Former reality TV stars have also chosen to write about their journeys, including Loana Petrucciani with “Elle m’appelait… Miette” (Fayard, 2001) and “Si dure est la nuit, si tendre est la vie” (Plon, 2018), and Nabilla Benattia with “Trop vite” (Robert Laffont, 2016). These works, along with others, may have inspired the creation of “Culte,” a fictional series offering a fresh perspective on the birth of “Loft Story.”
In six 52-minute episodes, “Culte” aims to capture the essence of a specific era, a pivotal moment in history when the World Trade Center towers still stood, and France was a world champion. It was at this intersection of two millennia that “Loft Story” emerged on M6, the only channel willing to take the bold, almost indecent, step of importing reality TV to France. The project was spearheaded by a new generation of producers, including Alexia Laroche-Joubert, who was behind “Loft Story,” as well as “Star Academy,” “Secret Story,” “Les Ch’tis,” and “Les Marseillais.” In “Culte,” Anaïde Rozam portrays Isabelle, a character largely inspired by the journey of the producer.
On the writing side, “Culte” is co-written by Jean-Alain Laban, with dialogue contributions from Marina Rollman. The series is produced by Screenline, a company owned by Banijay France, which Alexia Laroche-Joubert has led since September 2023. “Culte,” a series by Matthieu Rumani and Nicolas Slomka starring Anaïde Rozam, Sami Outalbali, and Marie Colomb, premieres on October 18th on Prime Video.
