Charles de Gaulle, the first president (1958-1969) of the Vth Republic, France’s current system of government, left his mark on the country . He was statesman of action and has been compared to a monarch. This film depicts the general’s personality through the great events of his presidential term, at a time when the world was undergoing considerable changes.
Editing
Archive footage stitched like political thriller propaganda.
Direction
Rotman treats de Gaulle like tragic Shakespearean figure.
Director
Patrick Rotman
Samuel Labarthe
Narrator (voice)
Charles de Gaulle
Self (archive footage)
André Malraux
Self (archive footage)
Pierre Mendès France
Self (archive footage)
François Mitterrand
Self (archive footage)
René Coty
Self (archive footage)
Georges Pompidou
Self (archive footage)
Michel Debré
Self (archive footage)
Alain Peyrefitte
Self (archive footage)
Nikita Khrushchev
Self (archive footage)
John F. Kennedy
Self (archive footage)
Jacqueline Kennedy
Self (archive footage)
Yvonne de Gaulle
Self (archive footage)
Konrad Adenauer
Self (archive footage)
Harold Macmillan
Self (archive footage)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
De Gaulle designed France's Fifth Republic constitution specifically to create a powerful executive—essentially crowning himself without the ermine robe.
The film's 'Last King' framing deliberately echoes 19th-century French historiography treating leaders as tragic heroes—very on-brand for a nation that guillotined its actual kings then missed them.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
FR
