politics
‘The spirit of resistance’: De Gaulle biopic turns into surprise hit for France’s younger viewers
Historians argue box office enthusiasm shows desire for unifying figure as country faces political division
TL;DR
- A new French two-part biopic about Charles de Gaulle is a surprise summer hit, attracting 5 million viewers.
- The film's success, particularly with young audiences, is attributed to De Gaulle's embodiment of resistance and the search for a unifying figure.
- The biopic is adapted from Julian Jackson's 2018 biography 'A Certain Idea of France: The Life of Charles de Gaulle'.
- Key events depicted include De Gaulle's 1940 rallying call and the Battle of Bir Hakeim in Libya.
- Pathé Films and influencers used social media and events to appeal to younger viewers.
- Some critics, like historian Arnaud Teyssier, dismissed the film as a 'comic strip' that oversimplified De Gaulle's complexity.
- Historians like Alya Aglan see De Gaulle's character as having modern resonance, offering hope and a sense of resistance in a politically divided France.
- The film's popularity coincides with France's upcoming divisive presidential election.