Directed by Léa Domenach, Bernadette traces the arc of Bernadette Chirac as she arrives at the Élysée in 1995, after years spent in her husband's shadow. The film is aired on France 2 on Sunday, May 3, 2025 at 9:10 p.m..
Bernadette
Film | 2023
Theatrical release: 4 October 2023
Broadcast on France 2 : Sunday, May 3, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Comedy, biopic | Duration: 1h32
By Léa Domenach | Starring Catherine Deneuve, Denis Podalydès, Michel Vuillermoz, Sara Giraudeau
Original title: Bernadette
Country: France
Initially relegated to a minor, unfashionable role, Bernadette Chirac decides to take matters into her own hands to become an indispensable media figure. Catherine Deneuve portrays this character alongside Denis Podalydès as Jacques Chirac and Michel Vuillermoz. The film treads a line between comedy and political satire, mixing fiction with archival footage and anecdotes.
The screenplay, co-written by Léa Domenach and Clémence Dargent, blends archival footage with dramatized reconstructions — including sequences that place Catherine Deneuve into real-life footage using CGI. The project has drawn some reaction from the Chirac family, notably Claude Chirac, who lamented not being consulted. The director stressed her commitment to maintaining complete independence in the writing.
Our take on Bernadette:
Quite the risky project, Bernadette turns out to be a pleasant surprise. Following in the footsteps of the recent series about Bernard Tapie, the film largely fictionalizes the twelve years Bernadette Chirac spent as first lady of France. Always working behind her husband to help him reach the presidency, she now believes it’s her turn to take charge. Marginalized for being considered old-fashioned, Bernadette decides to seize her comeback by becoming an unavoidable media figure.
And what an odyssey it is. It’s as witty as it is surprising to see Léa Doménach cast her heroine as a feminist icon of the era—rock, with punchlines to spare. The more sidelined she feels by her husband, the more she asserts her independence, steering her circle into unease. In short, we meet a Bernadette Chirac unlike any we’ve seen before—cheeky, sharp, and brilliantly brought to life by Catherine Deneuve, who feels deeply engaged in the role despite the absurd premise.
On top of that, the feature serves up a rich lineup of flavorful supporting characters, starting with a hilariously portrayed Nicolas Sarkozy by Laurent Stocker. There’s also a Karl Lagerfeld spot-on impression by Olivier Breitman and Artus as David Douillet. All told, this is far from the clichés, and that’s a welcome change.
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