On Wednesday, the streets of Saint-Tropez were filled with mourners paying their respects to Brigitte Bardot, the French film star, after her husband sadly announced her battle with cancer.
The day started with a traditional Catholic service at Notre Dame de l’Assomption, where her distinct wicker coffin was received by her son, whom she had not been in close contact with for years.
The reclusive star, known for her private lifestyle during the late 1950s and 1960s, was then taken by hearse to her family’s resting place on the Mediterranean coast, for a quiet ceremony attended by close family and friends.
As the yachts bobbed in the harbor, hundreds camped out with their pets, watching the tribute on large screens. Bardot significantly shaped the area into a premiere retreat for the affluent.
“What stands out most is her compassion for animals. She had such a kind heart. There were moments of insensitivity, but no true malice. There was so much more to her,” shared Sandrine, a school assistant who journeyed several hours to attend, in discussion with AFP.
The 60-year-old from the Pyrenees believed there would be a larger turnout, noting that possibly some did not come due to criticism surrounding her political views, which have been alleged to incite racial hatred.
A “no-frills” event
Friday’s ceremony gathered many of Bardot’s notable connections, spanning the French New Wave film community, animal rights advocates, and figures from far-right politics.
Attendees included the son of the late Jean-Paul Belmondo, far-right leader Marine Le Pen, along with many animal rights activists who benefitted from Bardot’s foundation.
Paul Watson, the Canadian founder of Sea Shepherd, was among the 400 guests. He described the occasion as a “no-frills” event. “Brigitte has been my friend for 50 years,” he recounted to AFP, emphasizing his presence to honor her significant contributions to global animal conservation.
As guests entered the church, they passed a joyful photo of Bardot with one of her dogs, along with a famed image of her holding a baby seal displayed near the pulpit and on the service booklet cover.
The day of remembrance for this icon of Saint-Tropez, who also symbolized the sexual revolution of the ’60s, concluded later with a public memorial in the park.
fight against cancer
Just before the memorial, Bardot’s fourth husband, Bernard Dormal, disclosed the cause of her death, revealing that she had faced two surgeries for an unidentified cancer before it ultimately took her life.
Despite being unwell, she insisted on returning to her cherished villa, “La Madrague,” where she wished to spend her final moments.
Dormal sat in the front row, near Bardot’s only child, Nicolas-Jacques Charrier, who attended with his own family. At 65, after being raised by his father, film director Jacques Charrier, he now resides in Oslo.
Bardot once compared her pregnancy to a “tumor consuming her,” describing motherhood as “miserable” while spending much of her life distanced from her son.
However, their bond grew stronger in her final year, and he was seen sobbing as the service commenced.
divisive
The absence of a national memorial service for Bardot—one of France’s most beloved personalities—and the mixed public sentiments surrounding her passing illustrate her complex and controversial legacy.
Many acknowledge her as a cinematic legend who epitomized the tumultuous ’60s in France and a pioneer of female liberation through her bold roles and character.
However, her conviction for racist hate speech, particularly against Muslims, has led to lukewarm praise from those on the left. Some have even chosen to overlook her entirely.
Although President Emmanuel Macron’s office suggested a national tribute similar to that of Belmondo in 2021, Bardot’s family did not pursue the idea.
While he was absent Wednesday, Macron did send a wreath.
Bardot was interred alongside her parents and grandparents in a coastal cemetery in Saint-Tropez, despite having previously expressed a desire to avoid a public ceremony altogether.
In her candid manner, she expressed worries about “a crowd of fools” trampling over the graves of ancestors.
