• placeholder image
  • placeholder image
  • placeholder image
  • placeholder image

The President's Wife

Bernadette

AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
Poster

DIRECTED BY:
Léa Domenach

STARRING:
CATHERINE DENEUVE
DENIS PODALYDÈS
MICHEL VUILLERMOZ
SARA GIRAUDEAU
LAURENT STOCKER (COMÉDIE FRANÇAISE)

BIOPIC, COMEDY / FRANCE / 2023 / 93 MINS / M

FRENCH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES

A tale of female 'empowerment', Bernadette is a chronicle of the Chirac years, with delightful gags and bright colours.

- Marie Claire

Legendary French actress Catherine Deneuve plays Bernadette Chirac in this uproarious comedy based on actual events.

1995, Jacques Chirac is elected President of the French Republic. When Bernadette Chirac steps into the Elysée, she's ready for the recognition she's earned, having tirelessly supported her husband's journey to the presidency. Instead, she finds herself set aside and brushed off as old-fashioned, cold and sour-tempered. With the help of her chief of staff, Bernard Niquet (Denis Podalydès, Rise, AF FFF23) Bernadette embarks on a campaign to restore her reputation and assert her role as first lady.

In her debut film, documentarian Léa Domenach skilfully blurs the lines between fact and fiction, presenting a captivating portrait of an unexpected feminist icon. The President's Wife is a delightful tapestry of satire, whimsical musical numbers, and vibrant visuals, offering a heart-warming celebration of Bernadette Chirac's resilience and wit.

You will find yourself smiling, laughing, and empathising with this delightful character, flawlessly personified by the wonderful Deneuve. The President's Wife is a must-see in this year’s lineup!

Lumiere Awards - Nominated for Best Actress

Ladies' Night

6:30 PM
Thu 14 Mar
Palace Electric

The Festival traditional Ladies' Night returns with The President’s Wife, in which legendary French actress Catherine Deneuve flawlessly plays Bernadette Chirac as she embarks on a campaign to restore her reputation and assert her role as first lady. This delightful tapestry of satire is documentarian Léa Domenach’s debut film.

6pm: glass of wine and cheese on arrival

6:30pm: The President’s Wife

SELECT YOUR CITY
STAY IN TOUCH