The Reality of a Fiery Restaurant: The Video of Diners Seated Amidst Flames is Authentic

“France is burning and the guys are eating and not calculating anything.” A video showing customers seated quietly at the restaurant while flames are visible in the background has gone viral on the web. We see, among other things, a man getting ready to enjoy a glass of limoncello.

“France has become the same This is fine» react Internet users who are indignant or amused by the manifest detachment of customers, comparing the scene to a famous comic strip by artist KC Green, which has become a famous meme where a dog in a hat is certain that “everything is fine” as he is surrounded by flames. The video was shared on many sites such as Reddit, 9Gag or on Twitter accounts mocking the French art of living, such as No Context French.

Contrary to what some suggest, this is not a montage. We have traced the origin of the images, originally shared on March 20 on Twitter by the @CEMisback account which indicates that the scene takes place “Live tonight in Lyon”. In response to messages accusing him of broadcasting an out-of-context or doctored video, the Internet user checks and recognize while he made a location error: “My friend has just confirmed me because he is the one filming, it is Stromboli in Saint-Etienne and I made a mistake, I put Lyon.”

On another movie shared by account, where we see flames in front of the restaurant, we recognize the Place Jean-Jaurès in Saint-Etienne. The video of the interior of the restaurant overlooks the rue de la Résistance and you can see the logo of a grill restaurant through the window.

Contacted, the Stromboli confirms: “This video was taken in our restaurant. We were amazed and amused to see how viral it went on the Net.” The restaurateur specifies that the scene took place on Monday, March 20. As the local news channel reports Television Loire 7that night, “several hundred people demonstrated in the city center […]. Garbage cans were set on fire and windows damaged. The police had to use tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, place Jean-Jaurès. Around 10 p.m., calm returned to the city center.

Concerning the rather relaxed atmosphere visible in the images, the restaurant assures that there was “no panic […]the garbage cans were burning outside, [mais] the firefighters were present, which reassured our customers who continued to dine as if nothing had happened despite the explosions”.