Film
De Gaulle: Résistance (2026)
Antonin Baudry
4/5
Sensational cinematic patriotism
If you thought like me that the cinematic display of patriotism cannot forgo a heavy dose of eye-rolling sentimentality, then this film happily proves us both wrong. Dexterous flowing script, nifty sensitive mainstream direction and fabulous acting work hand in hand to bring to life the story of the rise to power of general Charles de Gaulle after the capitulation of France to Hitler in 1940. The story is quite extraordinary. An unknown stiff and awkward military officer rebels against the spineless collaborating Vichy government and through a set of unlikely circumstances becomes the leader of the Free French in exile and subsequently one of the most consequential French leaders in history.
The two-part historical saga of which this is part I, based on the acclaimed biography of de Gaulle by the British historian Julian Jackson from 2018, A Certain Idea of France, has been adapted by the director Antonin Baudry with Bérénice Vila. There is an interesting interplay of cultural interpretations, for instance depicting Churchill as quite a Francophile who delivers a good proportion of his lines in French. Notwithstanding the mixing of French and English languages, which in many ways seems natural, the Free French being based initially in London and working with the British government, this presentation of history lets it be known that the English and the French are much closer than it is usually suggested. In 1940, as today, there were more substantial threats to face together rather than take the neighbourly bickering too seriously.
Simon Abkarian is a great choice for de Gaulle and is complemented by Simon Russell Beale’s equally compelling performance as Churchill. Although he looks nothing like the general, Abkarian holds de Gaulle’s aura convincingly. He finds the right tone to play this earnestly uncompromising man with understanding and finesse while Russell Beale visibly enjoys using his physique and skill to give us a somewhat quizzical lighter pragmatic Churchill without dwelling on his class privileges.
The history is inevitably simplified to present us with a palatable cinematic experience which is engaging, moving and unexpectedly funny. What surprises in this film is the frequent self-deprecating humour and the gentle teasing of stereotypes which helps the creators avoid giving us a ponderous history lesson. Churchill and de Gaulle comment on each other’s appearance with witty brutality, de Gaulle often earnestly voices his arrogance to hilarious effect which doesn’t take anything away from the seriousness and importance of the man, and the character of the Polish plumber who becomes one of de Gaulle’s aides in London (a very funny Karim Leklou) helps slightly lift the wartime dejection and lighten de Gaulle’s world-on-my-shoulders presence.
There are two strands of the narrative that are particularly powerful and which come together at the end. On one hand the truly heroic battle of Bir Hakeim in the Libyan desert where the underpowered Free French forces led by general Koenig (excellent Benoît Magimel) managed to hold off the Germans for fourteen days despite serious losses. On the other hand the story of a young man Fernand Bonnier de La Chapelle (a likeable Florian Lesieur) who wanted to join the resistance, was inspired by de Gaulle and ended up assassinating the ethically ambiguous admiral Darlan thereby clearing the way for de Gaulle’s leadership. The two sacrifices, that of the battle of Bir Hakeim and of Fernand’s assassination and execution, mark two of the many collective and individual losses that paved the way for the final victory over Nazism.
The film is uplifting making you think that if an unlikely principled man like de Gaulle could have broken through the ranks in 1940, perhaps it would also be possible today for someone authentically honourable and capable to emerge through all the excessively hypocritical political marketing. Now wouldn’t that be something? Looking forward to part II which should be released in UK cinemas in the next few weeks.
