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© Rialto - a commanding performance from
Abkarian - a thrilling historical story |
Not being a huge person for history or politics, I was not expecting to enjoy this film as much as I did. Parisian-born actor Simon Abkarian is at the heart of this story of a man with a fierce determination, and a patriotism that fired up a defeated country to resist. Beginning in 1940, we see France has capitulated to Germany and signed an Armistice, with a puppet government (the Vichy) now in charge. De Gaulle refuses to accept that Free France is done for, and ships out to London where he attempts to set up a government in exile. He befriends Winston Churchill (a wonderful Simon Russell Beale), and broadcasts continually, via the BBC, back to his growing group of followers in France. The political machinations between Churchill, the US government and de Gaulle are given plenty of time to develop (I recommend on reading up a little on them before seeing the film.) Specific battle scenes in North Africa that are featured, where brave Free French troops hold out against the odds, are superbly recreated, with high level realism and tension. De Gaulle's schemes to mobilise French colonies and activists back in France are carefully outlined, and all underscore what a mighty and determined figure he was. A parallel plot thread runs throughout; that of young Fernand de la Chappelle (Florian Lesieur), a nazi-hating, Vichy loathing, pro-France activist who, inspired by de Gaulle, becomes heavily involved in the French resistance. Despite the long runtime, this is an enthralling story. I can't wait for Part 2!
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