Le Promeneur du champ de Mars (2005)
Directed by Robert Guédiguian

Film Review

If it were merely an account of the last days of François Mitterand, Le Promeneur du champ de Mars would be a hard sell. Mitterand was renowned for his unwillingness to give way secrets about himself, so it's to be understood that much of what the film has to say about him will be at best speculation, at worst calculated mis-information. Fortunately, the film is much more than a straight biographical portrait.  It is in fact a sombre meditation on more abstract themes - mortality, political disillusionment, the conflict between private and professional lives, and more. As a result, the film is a much more attractive proposition than you might initially think.

The film was directed by Robert Guédiguian, and it is a much darker, more introspective, more tightly focussed piece than the kind of film he is better known for, i.e. naturalistic romantic dramas set in the sunny South of France.  The story is based on a controversial book about the French President by Georges-Marc Benamou, who co-wrote the screenplay.

Whilst Guédiguian's direction is certainly praiseworthy, it is the performances from the two lead actors which really sells the film.  Michel Bouquet won unanimous praise for his poignant and hugely convincing portrayal of a great man facing not just the end of his career but the end of his time on Earth.  It's an exceptional performance which conveys both the extraordinary and ordinary aspects of Mitterand's persona - the arrogance and the humanity, the man of culture and champion of socialist ideals - with a rare conviction.

Bouquet's co-star Jalil Lespert is nearly as impressive in the role of the young biographer.  It's fascinating to see the developing relationship between the two characters - the conflict of their moral and social positions and the way in which they regard one another, first with a hint of mutual distrust, then with respect and affection, ultimately with a slightly grudging mutual dependency. The film is as much a portrait of a young man looking for meaning in his life as it is a portrayal of a tired old man reconciling himself to death.

Despite its lethargic pace and static cinematographic style, Le Promeneur du champ de Mars is a compelling piece of cinema - thoughtful, beautifully composed and offering a respectful insight into the life of one of France's longest serving political leaders, whilst inviting us to reflect on wider issues that impact on our lives.

Film Synopsis

As he approaches the end of his second term as President of France, François Mitterand agrees to cooperate with a young journalist, Antoine Moreau, on the writing of his biography.   However, time is short - the President has an incurable illness and is unlikely to live much beyond the end of his term in office.   Moreau has problems of his own - his pregnant wife is about to leave him and he has serious financial worries.  Over a period of several months, the two men develop a close friendship, although Moreau cannot help noticing the disparity between the socialist ideal that Mitterand once represented and the present reality...