DIRECTOR: Xavier Durringer

COUNTRY: France

A political thriller set in France, this film traces the rise of French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The director, for obvious reasons, states that this film though based on real events, is a work of fiction. Still, it gives you insider accounts of the French political machinery.

The film does falter in a few areas. For instance, since it is a ‘factual’ account, the audience is deprived of unpredictable twists. But there are a few things that work for it, mainly the performances. Surprisingly, all the lead actors actually resemble their real-life counterparts! The film is filled with one-liners that have you in splits. The good part is that you don’t need to really understand French politics to enjoy this film although some knowledge on the subject would help.

The director does justice to the quirky protagonist and the background score accentuates his eccentricities. You also see the dramatic change in behavior of the politicians when they are on and off camera.

The story beautifully captures the irony of Sarkozy’s life: his success in politics and failure to save his marriage. The cinematography wonderfully captures the opulence and beauty of French architecture.