Early on in Catherine Deneuve’s recent film, it appears that she may have lost the thread. Nearing 80 during its production, the sole surviving grande dame of French cinema enters her initial scenes with a vacant gaze and seemingly expressionless face, raising concern that she no longer has the mental stamina needed for an effective leading role. Thankfully, as the film progresses, her performance opens up into a smashing success that puts all doubts to rest.
Buy The President’s Wife Blu-rayDeneuve portrays the real former first lady of France, Bernadette Chirac, in an unauthorized biopic that delves into her contentious time in the nation’s halls of power. When her husband Jacques becomes president in 1995, she expects to share in his success, before quickly realizing that she has been marginalized in favor of flashy political aides. This sets her off on a path of independence and reinvention, as she uses her status to champion her own ideas and political contenders, often in direct opposition to her husband’s wishes.
As directed and co-written by Lea Domenach, Bernadette is shown to be a shrewd, calculating presence who offers the best advice to her comically sexist and clueless husband, a relic stuck in the old ways of the patriarchy who views her as an asset, not a partner. When he constantly ignores her counsel, she consistently gets the last laugh every time his inner circle steers him wrong. The funniest instance is when they discount the political aspirations of political upstart Nicolas Sarkozy, with the professionals convinced the future President will never amount to anything in politics, while Madame Chirac correctly recognizes his rising power.
With all of the French political intrigue going on, the film is best enjoyed by viewers with at least a basic grasp of the last few decades of French rule. I realized I was a bit out of my depth with some of the lesser figures and events covered in the film, but Domenach largely keeps things breezy and superficial, so it’s still possible to get a good handle on things without feeling totally out of it. And really, the principal draw here is Deneuve, making the film a great vehicle to see a living legend bringing her gravitas to bear on the political life of another French titan.
The Blu-ray includes a couple of brief deleted scenes, along with the theatrical trailer. The film is presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, with 5.1 surround sound.
