Lambert Wilson floats in a too academic biopic of General de Gaulle.
May 1940. While the Germans are approaching Paris, Charles de Gaulle (Lambert Wilson), who has just been temporarily appointed general by President Reynaud (Olivier Gourmet), refuses to resign himself to defeat. With the help of Georges Mandel (Gilles Cohen), he tried to convince the government not to sign the armistice with Hitler. But it is the voice of the old hero of the First World War, Marshal Pétain (Philippe Laudenbach), who seems the most audible … Sent as ambassador to Churchill in London, de Gaulle leaves his wife Yvonne (Isabelle Carré) and their children on the roads of the Exodus…
Biography or hagiography?
Charles de Gaulle is a larger than life figure, an absolute reference, constantly summoned by the French political class (including the left now). This historic stature no doubt explains why French cinema has never dared to tackle it head-on, except in the mini-series Grand Charles in 2006 (where he was camped by Bernard Farcy). Gabriel Le Bomin is aware of the issue and this is probably what explains his bias: focus his evocation on the few weeks preceding the famous Call of June 18 and try to find the human behind the historical myth. It is unfortunately a failure.
Like his previous film The Patriots in 2017 (devoted to the black resistance fighter Addi Bâ during the Second World War), the filmmaker was far too wise. Author of numerous historical documentaries, Le Bomin is at ease in the reconstruction and in the political analysis of this pivotal moment for the destiny of France. But, never wishing to cut the stature of the French hero, he delivers an uninteresting hagiography, downright disturbing in shaky family scenes, turning in particular (until the final box) around little Anne, the disabled daughter of de Gaulle.
Too bad for Lambert Wilson, whose performance is not in question and for whom the general’s clothes did not seem too big. Intelligently, and despite the nose prosthesis, the make-up, he never seeks to imitate his model (especially not in his voice), but to embody its essence, grandeur…
De Gaulle Historical biopic Of Gabriel Le Bomin Scenario Gabriel Le Bomin & Valérie Ranson Enguiale With Lambert Wilson, Isabelle Carré, Olivier Gourmet, Sophie Quinton, Philippe Laudenbach, Gilles Cohen… Duration 1h48
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