Le Grand Charles

August 1944. In liberated Paris, Charles de Gaulle victoriously parades down the Champs-Elysées. The responsibility to restore a national bled white is his alone and no one at the time thinks to contest his authority. But within months, the unity forged in the Resistance explodes, the partisan quarrelling takes over again. De Gaulle, little inclined to playing the game of politics, is drained by the sterile infighting. On Sunday, January 20, 1946, he suddenly announces his resignation. He is probably thinking that his stepping down will provide a salutary jolt to the French who will call him back in coming weeks. But nothing of the kind takes place. The Fourth Republic settles in, the memories of the war fade. Thus begins for Charles de Gaulle what history will call “the wilderness years.” 12 years of solitude, crushed hopes and bitterness. Fortunately, the writing of his Mémoires occupies his daily life. By recalling the harsh ordeals of the war years, is he forgetting the mediocrity of the present? And do the memories of his clashes with Churchill and Roosevelt make up for the counterattacks of his current adversaries? Where will the spark come from? What event, what unlikely situation will restore him to the leadership of the nation?

France - 2005 - 2 x 1h40 - HD - Colour

Director
Bernard Stora
Script
Bernard Stora
Camera
Gérard de Battista
Sound
Henri Morelle
Sets
Jean-Pierre Bazerolle
Editing
Jacques Comets
Music
Vincent Stora
Cast
Bernard Farcy, Danièle Lebrun, Denis Podalydes, Grégori Derangère, Patrick Chesnais, Julien Boisselier, Thierry Hancisse

Production
GMT Productions,
64, rue du Château,
92660 Boulogne Billancourt Cedex, France
Tél : +33 (0)1 4122 3000
Fax : +33 (0)1 4122 3040
E-mail : francoise.grizaud@gmtproductions

with the participation of
France 2, ARTE France

Sales
France Télévisions Distribution,
1 Boulevard Victor Hugo,
75015 Paris, France
Tél : +33 1 56 22 90 48
Fax : +33 1 56 22 90 92
E-mail : ftdi.sales@francetv.com