Directed by Léa Domenach, Bernadette follows Bernadette Chirac 's journey to the Élysée Palace in 1995, after years spent in her husband's shadow. Initially relegated to a discreet role, judged too old-fashioned, she decided to take matters into her own hands and become a key media figure.
With Catherine Deneuve in the title role, joined by Denis Podalydès and Michel Vuillermoz, the film oscillates between comedy and political satire. Inspired by real events, but with an element of fiction, it paints the portrait of a woman in search of recognition, blending humor and reflection on the place of women in politics.
Bernadette will be broadcast on Max from March 5, 2025.
Synopsis: When she arrives at the Élysée Palace, Bernadette Chirac expects to finally get the place she deserves, having always worked in her husband's shadow to make him president. Shunned as being too old-fashioned, Bernadette decided to take her revenge by becoming a key media figure.
With its biting tone and amusing take on the world of politics, Bernadette could appeal to fans of satirical comedies in the vein of La Conquête or Baron Noir. Those who appreciate films that play on historical events with humor, such as The Queen or Palais Royal, will also find it of interest.
The film is aimed at a wide audience, tackling universal themes such as recognition, ambition and female emancipation. It could particularly resonate with those interested in the place of women in politics and the media. On the other hand, those who prefer a strict historical reconstruction may be put off by the film's light, romanticized tone.
Inspired by real events, the script is based on extensive documentation, including official archives and anecdotes from the Chirac family's life. However, director Léa Domenach and co-writer Clémence Dargent took a few liberties to create a comic character rather than an entirely faithful portrait.
The film uses a mix ofarchival footage and reconstructions, with some sequences even incorporating Catherine Deneuve into real images using special effects, an approach reminiscent of Forrest Gump.
The actress, initially skeptical about the project, was won over by the film's angle and the finesse of the script. According to Léa Domenach, Catherine Deneuve was fully invested in her role, even viewing the rushes of the shoot to ensure the coherence of the whole.
The project provoked some reactions from the Chirac family, notably Claude Chirac, who regretted not having been consulted. However, the director insisted on maintaining total independence in her writing.
With Catherine Deneuve in a daring role, Bernadette offers a biting comedy, exploring the transformation of Bernadette Chirac into a key figure on the media scene. A blend of humor, satire and homage, the film promises a light-hearted yet profound look at a personality often overlooked by the general public.
Our opinion of Bernadette:
A daredevil project par excellence, Bernadette is a pleasant surprise. Following in the footsteps of the recent Bernard Tapie series, the film is a largely fictionalized account of Bernadette Chirac's twelve years as First Lady of France. Having always worked in her husband's shadow to make him President, she now feels it's up to her to take things in hand. Thrown aside as being too old-fashioned, Bernadette decided to take her revenge by becoming a key media figure.
And this odyssey is a quality one! It's as funny as it is surprising that Léa Doménach wants to turn her heroine into a feminist icon of her time, with a rock'n'roll attitude and an easy punchline. The more she's sidelined by her husband, the more she proves her independence by doing as she pleases, plunging everyone around her into a deep malaise. In short, we discover a Bernadette Chirac as we've never seen her before, insolent and prickly, brilliantly played by Catherine Deneuve who, despite the absurdity of the proposition, is very much involved in the role.
And on top of all that, the film offers us a wide range of delightful secondary characters, starting with a hilarious Nicolas Sarkozy, played by Laurent Stocker. But also a Karl Lagerfeld perfectly imitated by Olivier Breitman and Artus as David Douillet. In short, it's a far cry from clichés, and that's good.
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