In “Swapped,” Rose (Lula Cotton-Frapier) leaves her rural home to become a wet nurse for a bourgeois family in late 19th century Paris. There, she meets midwife Odette (Barbara Probst), who warns her: she won’t be allowed to keep her own child with her. A risky solution presents itself to Rose: secretly exchange her baby with that of Hélène de Gersande (Alexia Giordano), a mother grieving the sudden loss of her infant. Rose, Odette, and Hélène, three women from very different backgrounds, will have to join forces to carve out a place for themselves in a male-dominated world, and claim their freedom.
With producer Christine de Bourbon Busset, who called upon Belgian TV power-duo Vania Leturcq and Savina Dellicour (“Pandora”) to helm the six episodes, Echkenazi and Robert set out on this risky yet captivating journey. As the series sets sail, Variety spoke with the team about the makings of this modern take on France’s untold history.
From left to right, Alexandra Echkenazi, Vincent Robert, Christine de Bourbon Busset, Vania Leturcq, Savina Dellicour. Credits photo Caroline Dubois, Jean-Philippe Baltel
This very modern topic resonated with both writers and producer Christelle de Bourbon Busset (“HP,” “Cheyenne & Lola”), who quickly reached out to Belgian directors Savina Dellicour and Vania Leturcq to helm this project. “I fell in love with ‘Pandora,’ and we were discussing another project at the same time, which unfortunately didn’t get greenlit, but that allowed me to pitch them this idea.”
Leturcq and Dellicour were both very enthusiastic, but also a little preoccupied by the challenge of tackling a premium, limited series period drama. It is the modern, female-driven narrative that appealed to the duo. “I’ve always been interested in the way women bodies carry other women bodies in our societies,” explains Leturcq. In today’s France, wet-nursing isn’t practiced anymore, but Leturcq points out that childcare is still very much a woman’s responsibility, be it professionally or as a parent.
Credits Caroline Dubois
What makes ‘Swapped’ stand out is how it manages to play on both period and thriller levels, as the series unveils its character-driven, complex plot in which female protagonists navigate the shifting tides of a patriarchal French society.
According to the team, France Télévisions wholeheartedly embraced this unusual format, high-end aim and gritty, modern take on the period drama.
Beyond this specific aspect, all on the team praised the benevolent and warm atmosphere in which the shooting took place. “From our cast to our behind-the-camera team, everyone invested themselves completely in the project,” underlines the directing duo. “Lola especially became friends with everyone. On the first day of shooting, even if she wasn’t on the call sheet, she came and brought cake to everyone. This set the tone for our collective journey onward.”
