220 minutes of French political chaos — and somehow you'll want more.
Faced with President François Mitterrand, Jacques Chirac embodied the opposition. In 1986, the right won the legislative elections and he became Prime Minister. After two years of tough cohabitation, François Mitterrand was re-elected in 1988. After a moment of despondency, the Chirac machine started up again. During the referendum on Maastricht, he took a position for the "yes", against the vast majority of his party. In March 1993, the opposition led by Chirac won a crushing victory. Edouard Balladur became Prime Minister. In 1995, Jacques Chirac was elected President of the Republic: thirty years of political life found their fulfillment.
Editing
Rotman weaves decades of footage into propulsive narrative.
Production
Unprecedented access to Chirac's private archival collection.
Director
Patrick Rotman
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Rotman spent three years negotiating access; Chirac initially wanted final cut approval, then mysteriously relented.
Released months after Chirac's 2005 referendum humiliation on the EU constitution — the film's triumphant arc became instantly elegiac.
FR
