THE PRESIDENT’S WIFE/ BERNADETTE

France, 2023, 93 minutes, Colour.

Catherine Deneuve, Denis Podalydes, Michel Vuillermoz, Sarah Giraudeau, Laurent Stocker, Maud Wyler.

Directed by Lea Domenach.

A comedy with serious political undertones. And the question is: do audiences outside France know enough about the presidency of Jacques Chirac in the 1990s and early 2000s, aware of the career of his wife, Bernadette, and her influence. It will be very interesting to read the reviews to gauge how much is fact, how much is exaggeration, how much is comedy, how much is serious.

And, of course, to find out whether French audiences like the film or not, depending on their particular political perspectives, in the reassessing of Chirac’s presidency, the influence of the far right and Le Penne 20 years ago, the similarities with the pre-Olympics 2024 elections, the ins and outs of French politics.

The opening of the film is something of an eye and ear delight, a mixed choir, in robes, chanting with polyphony, initial information about who Bernadette was, her family lineage, her political career, her marriage to the future president, her determination, the place of women in French politics in the 19^th century, and her husband’s infidelities.

And who better to portray Bernadette Chirac than the doyen of French actresses, Catherine Deneuve, the film released as she turned 80, remembering her rather brilliant career, headlining film credits for 60 years. And, at various stages, she was the image symbol of France, Marianne.

Catherine Deneuve gives a commanding performance as Bernadette even though so often she is at the command, the phone beck and call of her ambitious husband. She has had something of a local political career, her husband is a political male chauvinist, becoming increasingly alarmed at her upfront presence in his campaigns, in her social work, establishing a hospital, television appearances, music and sports stars eager to support her charities.

It needs to be said that the portrait of Jacques Chirac in this film is exceedingly one-dimensional, preoccupied with power, upset at his wife’s increasing public presence, something of the moving equivalent of newspaper cartoons. And, in many ways, that is how his supporters are presented – the exception being Nicholas Sarkozy and his moves against Chirac but who was in line to succeed him.

One of the very interesting characters, but also one-dimensional, is the Chirac’s daughter, Claude, 110% committed to her father’s political career, rather humourless, single-minded, critical of her mother and also trying to control her, but the suggestion that she have a mentor. He is played by Dennis Podylades, the other multi-dimensional character in the film, a touch pedantic, politically shrewd, public relations savvy, becoming a good friend and supporter of Bernadette.

The film is comparatively brief, indicates the timeline with continued jumps of several years from 1995 to the mid-2000’s.

Whether an audience outside France would be eager to see the film is a question. The obvious attraction is Catherine Deneuve. It may well be interesting to make political comparisons with campaigns of other countries (it is the era of Clinton at first, with a visit from Hillary Clinton to France – but there is no mention of George Bush.)

Entertaining in its way but comparatively slight.

1. For a French audience? For those outside France? Knowledge of Jacques Chirac? Of Bernadette?
2. The settings, Paris, the political world, society world, campaigns, hospital promotion, of the family, political work behind the scenes? The musical score?
3. Catherine Deneuve, her status, portraying a public figure, age, appearance, fashion and style?
4. The actual story of Jacques Chirac and his wife, the long marriage, his character, single-minded, philandering, dominating his wife, phone calls, expectations, his resenting her being in the limelight, pushing her out of view, her success, his harsh reactions, politicking, her role in the campaigns? His election, his staff, his reliance on Claude managing his business, the resentments against Sarkozy, barracking at the football match, phoning his wife, intervening, his stroke, his retirement?
5. Bernadette, local politics, her involvement, popularity, her reaction to her husband, expectations, his affairs, her patience, expressing her views, Claude’s reaction, advising the mentor, Bernadette response, collaborating with him, the hospital, the entertainment and sports stars, publicity, meetings, events? Her relationship with Laurence, her illness, her concern, passed over by her husband, gradually emerging, her support of Sarkozy after meeting with him, given her former resentments?
6. The mentor, character, task, responding well to Bernadette, their collaboration, improving her style, appearance, public functions, charities, achievement?
7. Her daughters, Claude and her strictness, devoted to her father, referring to him as the president? Is one, her past illness, her concern, her daughter’s resentment and reactions?
8. The politicos, their characters, yes-men to Iraq, and vice, situations, elections and campaigns, the far right and its success? Supporting Sarkozy?
9. Political comment, the light touch, comic, satiric?