Young man's confession on YouTube: "I killed a man".
(Level: Intermediate to Upper-Intermediate / B1 to B2 / ***)



Before watching

You are going to watch a rather chilling YouTube video which has now gone viral(*) on the Web. It shows a 22-year-old truck driver, Matthew Cordle, who admitted killing a man in a road accident. He insists on taking full responsibility for it.

(*) to go viral: to spread like a virus

Note:

The confession video was released with the help of a non-profit Ohio organisation called Because I said I would (www.becauseisaidiwould.com) which aims at making humanity better through the power of a promise.

Promise cards are important as they help you remember your commitments or goals and therefore (once you've kept your promises) be a person of your word.

See here how it works!   http://becauseisaidiwould.com/what-are-promise-cards/
 

Ohio
Map from myonlinemaps.com

 

The following words could be useful:
to hop from bar to bar: to go bar-hopping / to go from one bar to the next and get progressively drunk      faire la tournée des bars
to black out: to become unconscious / to pass out    s'évanouir
the oncoming traffic: approaching vehicles in the opposite lane   véhicules arrivant en sens inverse
high-powered: very important / reputable      de haut vol / réputé
an attorney (US): a lawyer    avocat
to get off: to escape (from punishment)   s'en tirer




While watching


Watch the video and answer the following question in French!

How are the man's words associated with the way he appears on the video (or the way the video itself is produced)? Complete the grid!

Part 1 of the video: 00:00 to 01:39	Part 2 of the video: 01:40 to the end
Your observations (about that part of the video? The staging elements?)	Your observations (about that part of the video? The staging elements?)
What does he say during that part of the video? (What do you get to know about what happened, the circumstances, the type of man he is, his addiction, his lawyers)	What does he say during that part of the video?

When you are finished, check your answers!

(You'll also find the transcripts hereafter)

Suggestions de réponses!

Part 1 of the video: 00:00 to 01:39	Part 2 of the video: 01:40 to the end
Your observations (about that part of the video? The staging elements?)  - Visage flouté + voix masquée (début des aveux sous le couvert de l'anonymat) - Musique lugubre; sombre	Your observations (about that part of the video? The staging elements?) - Aveux à visage découvert + voix normale (après avoir dit qu'il ne mentirait pas dans cette affaire) - Musique triste - Montre ses blessures (suite à l'accident) - Montre sa "carte promesse" à la caméra (qu'il a aussi rédigée devant la caméra)
What does he say during that part of the video?  (What do you get to know about what happened, the circumstances, the type of man he is, his addiction, his lawyers)   Il a occasionné un accident de la circulation et est responsable de la mort d'un homme. Il avait fréquenté plusieurs bars avec des amis et il était ivre mort; il a quand même décidé de rentrer chez lui avec son camion,  s'est retrouvé sur la voie opposée et a heurté une voiture de plein fouet. Il a l'habitude de boire parce qu'il souffre de dépression. Il devient alors un individu qu'on n'aime pas fréquenter, qui occasionne des bagarres et qui a gâché plusieurs relations. Les avocats qu'il a rencontrés suite à cette affaire lui ont dit qu'on pouvait faire disparaître les tests sanguins qu'ils avait subis suite à son accident et qu'il ne lui resterait plus qu'à mentir.	What does he say during that part of the video?     Il dévoile son identité (Matthew Cordle) et celle de sa victime (Vincent Canzani) + la date des faits (le 22 juin 2013). Il refuse de salir la mémoire de M. Canzani en mentant. Il prendra ses responsabilités et plaidera coupable lorsqu'il comparaîtra.   Il sait que cette vidéo correspond à des aveux qu'il fournit au procureur et qu'il risque d'encourir une peine de prison conséquente. Il implore tous ceux qui verront la vidéo de ne pas boire et conduire. Il ne peut plus ramener M. Canzani à la vie; il ne peut pas effacer ce qu'il a fait mais les autres (futures) victimes peuvent encore être sauvées...

Transcripts

I killed a man.
I was out with some friends, we were all drinking really heavily. Just hopping from bar to bar... just trying to have a good time and I lost control.
You know, sometimes I drink because I have depression that I struggle with every day. And ... I just drink to get out of my head for a few hours. You know... I really don't like the person I become when I drink. I've ruined relationships in the past... I start fights... you know... I just generally become the person that people don't like being around.
On that particular night, I made a mistake and got in my truck. I completely blacked out and just started to try to drive home. I ended up going the wrong way down the highway... directly into oncoming traffic and I struck a car.
I killed a man.

Immediately following that, I consulted some high-powered attorneys who told me stories about similar cases where the drivers got off. They were convinced I could get my blood tests thrown out and all I would have to do for that was lie.
Well I won't go down that path.  

 

My name is Matthew Cordle, and on June 22, 2013, I hit and killed Vincent Canzani.
This video will act as my confession.  
When I get charged, I will plead guilty and take full responsibility for everything I have done to Vincent and his family.
If I took a different route, maybe I would get a reduced sentence and maybe I would get off...But I won't dishonor Vincent's memory by lying about what happened.
By releasing this video I know exactly what it means. I'm handing the prosecution everything they need to put me away for a very long time...but I'm willing to take that sentence for just one reason.
And that reason is so I could pass this message on to you.
I beg you...and I say the word "BEG" specifically...I'm begging you...please don't drink and drive.
Don't make the same excuses that I did.
Don't say it's only a few miles or you've only had a few beers...or you do it all the time....or it will never happen to you. Because it happened to me and all of those are just excuses to make yourself feel better about a decision that you know is wrong and could cost lives.
I can't bring Mr. Canzani back...and I can't erase what I've done.
But you can still be saved, your victims can still be saved.
So please...