Bernadette review – Catherine Deneuve warms up French first lady biopic

Catherine Deneuve gives a dignified and light-hearted performance in a lackluster, uninspiring biographical political comedy-drama that is surprisingly apolitical. Deneuve embodies Bernadette Chirac, spouse of Jacques Chirac, a past mayor of Paris and president of France from 1995 to 2007. Jacques managed to thwart the far-right movement of Le Pen but was criticized in the United States for his refusal to support the Iraq war. Ultimately, Jacques' reputation was tarnished by corruption scandals. Bernadette is portrayed by Deneuve as the proud yet outspoken first lady, who, in her Lagerfeld ensembles, has borne her husband’s prolific indiscretions, much like the French media and public that seems indifferent to them, a very different reaction than you would see in the UK or US. However, when Princess Diana dies in a car accident in Paris in 1997, and the president is not at his post for this pivotal event, he is found in Italy by a crisis response team with a distraught Bernadette present. They listen to an anonymous Italian woman on speakerphone telling “Giacomo” someone wishes to speak with him. (Assuming this is partially accurate, it could have served as the plot for a whole movie.) Michel Vuillermoz, portraying Jacques Chirac, comes across as an overly particular curmudgeon, wholeheartedly disapproving of Bernadette’s endeavors to be integral or beneficial to his administration— he even hands her a note reading: “Taisez vous!” (“Shut up!”) during her speech. Vuillermoz doesn't show Jacques' playful side, and in his haughty demeanor, he in fact bears more likeness to the much-despised former socialist president, François Mitterrand. However, he grows to appreciate Bernadette's political acumen. Veteran actor Denis Podalydès delivers a light-hearted portrayal of Bernard Niquet, the PR expert hired to soften Bernadette's image, while Laurent Stocker portrays Nicolas Sarkozy, the cunning charmer distrusted by both Chiracs. The film proceeds in a leisurely manner, akin to a daytime soap revolving around trivial matters; all the supposedly critical events feel unimportant politically and emotionally. Deneuve brings style and elegance to the film, but her slightly enigmatic demeanor amidst the routine, low-grade foolishness she encounters is perplexing. This mannerism sits well in almost every scene, but it could just be Deneuve’s signature stoic face. Regardless, she convincingly embodies the role of the first lady. The movie, Bernadette, will be released on 5 January at the French Institute in London.