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Spain released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: French ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), Spanish ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Filmographies, Interactive Menu, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: French director Robert Guédiguian leaves behind his beloved Marseilles to offer up this sombre and ambivalent portrait of the late President Francois Mitterrand, who's superbly played by veteran actor Michel Bouquet. Based on Georges-Marc Benamou's controversial book and shot without frills, The Last Mitterrand focusses on the final year of the socialist politician's life and is narrated by a young left-wing journalist Antoine (Jalil Lespert), who's been hired to write the man's memoirs.; ; The dialogue-heavy The Last Mitterrand does assume a certain degree of knowledge of 20th-century French politics on the part of the viewer, alluding to such figures as police chiefs Rene Bosquet and Maurice Papon, both of whom were instrumental in deporting French Jews to the Nazi concentration camps. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Berlin International Film Festival, Ceasar Awards, ...The Last Mitterrand ( Le Promeneur du champ de Mars ) ( Le Dernier Mitterrand )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Serious portrait of a legendary statesman,
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This review is from: Last Mitterand,the [DVD] (DVD)
"The Last Mitterand" is a reflective film , exploring the relationship between a young writer and the dying President of France, Francois Mitterand. The writer,who is also the narrator of the film, is composing Mitterand's memoirs and he forms a close personal friendship with the ailing politician. The film is only likely to appeal to those with an interest in history and politics, French politics in particular, and those wishing to find out more about M.Mitterand, who emerges from the film as an avuncular intellectual with a deep love of his country and a keen eye for the ladies ,even at his advanced age. Throughout the film ,the mystery of the precise nature of Mitterand's ambiguous role in the Vichy Government in WW2 remains unresolved ,destined to follow him to the grave unrevealed to the frustration of the young writer . A serious film , a sort of biopic and an interesting portrait of a leading world figure from the last quarter of the 20th Century, well acted by all of the main characters.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Still a somewhat mysterious patriot!,
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This review is from: Last Mitterand,the [DVD] (DVD)
This is an excellent, well produced film that can be enjoyed to the full even if French politics are not your 'vin de pays!' Well acted and beautifully photographed and demanding of attention. Msr Mitterand discloses much of his life history but a lot remains something of a mystery. His role in the vichy government of WW2 is far from explained and will probably remain so. More light hearted is his social life, especially among the ladies, and his part generally in french politics (a difficult study at the best of times !) There is little not to find agreeable in this film and is well worth a couple of hours of ones time.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fishy Vichy,
By
This review is from: Last Mitterand,the [DVD] (DVD)
I was prepared to see this film as a whitewash: the facts are never quite uncovered.Was he for the Resistance or was he an anti-semite supporter of Bouquet?He strangely traversed from the right to the left in French politics,was treated as a traitor,a chameleon,a man who would be President. We see him gazing dewy-eyed at the recumbent memorials of previous kings and leaders, wanting to secure his own place in history.He was the longest ruling French socialist and the last, even using the term 'socialism' in speeches prior to the oncoming tides of globalisation and world markets dictating political forces. After him he tells the young journalist,Moreau,will be only accountants (mirroring DeGaulle's'le Deluge') and technocrats.Bouquet gives a mesmeric performance as the wily,old schemer dropping lavish quotes from literature and history.Moreau the left wing idealist is presented as infatuated with his importance to socialism(reflecting Guediquian's approach to his subject) but also realizing the personal cost of writing the book-he loses his partner who is disgusted by Mitterrand. He does not merely wish to be a ghostwriter so he attempts,unsuccessfully, to confront him with slight discrepancies in the facts and is humiliated or brushed aside at every turn. He is charmed more by the reminiscences of a great statesman and what to look for in women as he is looking for somebody new.He also has a slight wake up call to the fact that his calls are being monitored as he visits Vichy.Mitterand's secret daughter is mentioned,but his 62 affairs in his 14 years of Presidency,his illicit appetites or surveillance of his opponents, even his attendance at pro-fascist rallies in his youth are never really disclosed.The equation between his diseased and ailing body and the French body politic is made by Guediquian,the director.His stubborness and charm win through(witness him being kissed by a young French women after he steps down and walks along a French street) and his importance in French political life is ably remembered through the treatment he is given in this film. Lucky to the last to have such a director, writer and actor as his last memorial
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