Hellen I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

Matrixiole Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Kahuna-6 Here is a film made in 1961. Yet, it could have been made yesterday.The issues surrounding the European Union, very clearly illustrated in this movie, are still reverberating around the world today. Idealism vs realpolitik. Vested interested vs the 99%. Can politicians be both moral & pragmatic? Can there be compromise without sacrificing principles? Can power be exercise decently? The screenplay written by Michel Audiard is outstanding. Complex issues are presented effectively and clearly. It is no wonder that he is much proclaimed amongst the French literati.This film has no fancy effects or fast cuts. There is no easy Hollywood style resolution. But watch if you want a little illumination in a muddy world.

jotix100 Emile Beaufort, a former French president, is now living in his country home, surrounded by his memories about his life in politics. As the story begins, the English P.M., Sir Merryl, arrives to pay a visit to his former ally. The visit, although brief, tells us how much appreciated Beaufort was during his public life. Now in retirement and in fading health, Beaufort has been working in his memoirs, assisted by his faithful secretary, Ms. Milleran.The former president confesses he was married for only ten years, but he had a forty year affair with his mistress: France. It is clear the love Emile has for the country in which he was able to work toward its greatness. One of the worst moments in his life is connected to the ambitious Philippe Chalamont, a man that almost derailed France's recovery after WWII by revealing a state secret to his wife. Emile Beaufort never forgave him, asking him to write a letter just in case he would try to capitalize on his connections to become president of France. In the end, Emile Beaufort thought better of fulfilling his promise, not before having a confrontation with Chalamont.The film is based on a George Simenon novel, of the same title. Not knowing what the film was about we were looking for the wrong reason when the film started. It has nothing to do to anything prior associated to the author, a master writer of mystery and crime. As directed by Henry Verneuil, the movie is a political drama that is involving, even though French politics of those years are not exactly a subject often seen in pictures. The crisp dialogue was adapted by Michel Audiard, the father of Jacques and Francois Audiard, in collaboration with the director. To Mr. Audiard's credit the sequence where Emile Beaufort faces a hostile parliament is one of the best things in movies about this subject.The best asset in the film is Jean Gabin. He was a man that brought an integrity and credibility to everything he asked to play. Such is the case with his Emile Beaufort, a man that truly loved his country. Mr. Gabin gave one of his many excellent portrayals for the French cinema in this film. Equally good, Bernard Blier, another excellent actor who matches Mr. Gabin well. Renee Faure is seen as his secretary Milleran. Alfred Adam, Louis Seigner, are seen among the supporting players.

medjai27 To watch this movie, I needed (i) some free time on a rainy afternoon to think about and enjoy an intelligently made film, (ii) to know some early films with the following names : Audiard, Blier, Gabin, etc. (iii) to refresh my knowledge of France's former institutions. This film got me to that point when you like what you're watching so much that you end up taking notes while watching it. The more I see Blier in his films, the more I like him. He plays once more a supporting part, but he is great as the ambitious ambivalent mischievous politician. Gabin tends to recycle the style of his former parts. However if you take into account the fact that he actually plays a mix of three different politicians (Clémenceau, Jaurès and De Gaulle), it is in the end actually quite understandable to see him depicted as a role model for all politicians, always having the right word with the right occurrence. Although you might object on some of the aspects of his economic policy, which was actually applied during these years, he is respectable and righteous. And there is this moment of anthology where he speaks before the congressmen, which is instructive politically and cinematographically. The movie is well constructed. The pace is rather slow, but it is to emphasize on the dialogs, since they tend to be all efficient in every scenes. Politically the film is quite puzzling, since some of the issues raised are somehow still debated today, and this after some 70 years, while depicting accurately the role and the quirks of politicians and insisting on their duties as men elected from the people. This movie is well directed and actually allows you to remember it after seeing it. The movie manages to be entertaining and instructive. Go for it.

Lilie Vitra I start watching the movie half way through, well at the passage where he speaks in front of the the Assembly and the speech written was very powerful. it reminded a lot about " Mr Smith goes to Washington" and how much Politician should be. full of ideals, beliefs and passion for humanity.There are a few lines at the end that are quite good too. It is at the point when B Blier visits J Gabin at his place, a few years after his demission. He has some doubts about his capacity to run the government and is asking for J Gabin's opinion. He is even asking for his discreet help when he will run the government and you think Gabin is going to accept, feeling flattered ( he does feel flattered ) and jump on the occasion to say yes but he doesn't. And he has this great other speech about how should be the man who leads a nation, pretty good lines too.