It's Fiction...Based On Factual Fiction

In 2004, a French woman named Marie-Leonie Leblanc reported to police an anti-Semitic attack that occurred against her on the Metro. Her clothes had been torn, locks of her hair had been cut off, her baby's stroller had been overturned and swastikas were drawn on her skin in red marker...

By Kaitlin Ingram

April 29, 2010

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In 2004, a French woman named Marie-Leonie Leblanc reported to police an anti-Semitic attack that occurred against her on the Metro. Her clothes had been torn, locks of her hair had been cut off, her baby's stroller had been overturned and swastikas were drawn on her skin in red marker. The incident put France in an uproar until, four days later, Leblanc recanted her story and admitted that she made the whole thing up. And, as it turns out, Leblanc wasn't even Jewish. Leblanc's story sounds so preposterous that if you didn't see the news coverage firsthand, you might mistake it for a work of fiction. Interestingly, there now happens to exist a work of fiction loosely based on these events: Belgian filmmaker Andre Techine's 2009 film, The Girl on the Train. It's playing at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 3200 Darnell St., this weekend as part of the Magnolia at the Modern film series. Show times are 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $8.50 or $6.50 for Modern members. For more information, call 817-738-9215, or visit themodern.org/magnolia.
April 30-May 2, 2010

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