BERNADETTE
TWO AND A HALF STARS The President's wife decides it's time to come out of his shadow. But first, a social makeover.
COMEDY DRAMA FRANCE French #BERNADETTE
Starring Catherine Deneuve, Denis Podalydès
BERNADETTE (aka THE PRESIDENT’S WIFE) is an appealing yet uneven portrayal of a woman grappling with the complexities of life and legacy. Directed by Léa Domenach and starring the iconic Catherine Deneuve, here’s a dramedy loosely inspired by true events about the wife of former French president Jacques Chirac. While the premise brims with potential, the execution falters, leaving the film caught somewhere between satire and sincerity.
Tired of being set dressing, Bernadette Chirac decides it’s time to inject herself into her husband’s government, an idea not well received. First of all, Jaques Chirac is a fastidious grump who deeply disapproves of his wife’s attempts to be useful to the administration in any regard. Stay in your lane is the articulated understanding. Second of all, the public don’t much care for her either and so her image is reworked for the sake of the nation. Cue Bernard the PR man who is brought in to put a smile on Bernadette’s image which, mostly, works.
Deneuve, as always, delivers a commanding performance. She imbues Bernadette with a wry wit and steely determination, showcasing the nuanced layers of a woman long overshadowed by her husband. Her presence elevates even the film's weaker moments, making Bernadette a compelling figure to watch. The supporting cast, however, struggles to match her gravitas. While Denis Podalydès offers an understated turn as Jacques Chirac, the chemistry between the two lacks the required heft needed to fully explore their complicated relationship. He just seems grumpy.
While BERNADETTE is visually appealing - Domenach’s polish reflects the grandeur of French politics and the personal isolation it often entails - her screenplay is less refined. The tone wavers, shifting awkwardly between biting political satire and heartfelt drama. The film is at its best when it leans into humour, poking fun at the absurdities of power and privilege. Bernard is great fun. Yet, when it attempts to explore deeper emotional terrain, it often feels shallow, glossing over key moments of Bernadette’s life in favour of lighter, crowd-pleasing fare.
The result is a mixed bag that offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of a complex woman and benefits immensely from Deneuve’s magnetic performance. The first act sets up an engaging narrative but the film soon loses momentum in a struggle to balance disparate themes.
By the time it reaches its conclusion plot lines feel unresolved and character arcs under developed. Like big emotional scenes from a daytime soap, you know what's happened is important but do you really care? Produced without input from the Chirac estate (for which Domenach unsurprisingly earned the family’s scorn), BERNADETTE will please fans of Catherine Deneuve - her Resting Icon Face is very watchable - but as a biographical drama, comedy, both or either, it falls short of its ambitions.
Yorumlar