Two famous right-wing politicians, according to two premiere films

Two films dedicated to very popular right-wing figures in their respective countries coincide in premiere theaters: “The Apprentice”which paints donald trump in its beginnings, following the lessons of an influential lawyer, and “Bernardette, the president’s wife”which relives the evolution (and revenge) of Madame Chiracguided by a good counselor.

Movie premieres: “The Apprentice”

The first begins in the ’70s, when trump He is just an ambitious young man upset with his father, who has him as a supporter in the business, and he ends up in the ’80s, when Trump Tower already shows who is on his way to being, at the very least, the king of the city. What happened in between?

Well, the meeting with Roy Cohnwhich taught him how to take on the world. Always attack, deny the evidence and claim victory even if you have lost; Those tips, plus the practice of blackmail, tricks, management of influences and contacts, would make him a successful businessman, since cohn in his legal advisor and political advisor.

In this regard, this man was the main assistant of the shady senator Joseph McCarthychief prosecutor of the case Rosenbergwhich led two innocent people to the electric chair: defender of the mobster Tony Salernoalias Gordo Salerno, and so we continue. Already old and sick, he finally lost an accusation for various corruptions and they took away his title (and trumpas they say, did not go to visit him).

This, more than a satire, as could be expected, is a very agile, quite balanced, very well set and very well acted chapter of history (in the lead, Sebastian StanAlthough it may seem like a lie, Jeremy Strong, Maria Bakalova like Ivana). Surely a sector of the public will see it as a crude painting of a reprehensible, scrupulous, arrogant, ordinary, racist, abusive guy. But another sector, which considers all this as a sum of virtues, will have to celebrate it. That’s how things are.

Director, the Dane Abi Abassifar from its shuddering “Border” and “Holy Spiner”. Script, Gabriel Shermanjournalist for “Vanity Fair” and “New York Magazine”, librettist for documentaries “Truman’s Road to the White House” and “The Loudest Voice”about Roger Ailesthe creator of Fox News. Canadian production, filmed in Ontario.

“Bernardette”

For its part, “Bernardette, the president’s wife”is a friendly comedy where recent historical figures are laughed at, a bit along the lines of the Bertrand Tavernier of “Diplomatic Chronicles” or the teacher Sacha Guitry when did “If Versailles counted”. In this case, if the Elysée Palace counted, we would discover that the president’s stern wife, tired of her husband who ignores her and cheats on her, would take her revenge. In bed? That’s not enough.

It is about Jacques ChiracGaullist politician who was mayor of Paris and 13 years president of France (1995-2007), and his wife, born Bernadette Chodron de Courcel (Bernardettelike the little shepherdess of Lourdes, but not at all holy). The truth is that Madame, when she changed her public image a little, achieved a good degree of popularity and influence, and the French still love her, today that she is a 91-year-old woman, widowed and retired.

In short, you envy the freshness of the French in dealing with their history, and you have a good time with the director’s cordial and feminist humor. Lea Domenach and the protagonist Catherine Deneuvewho is in his element, in haute couture dresses, and in the company of Michel Vuillermoz (the husband), Denis Podalydes (the advisor), Olivier Breitman (Karl Lagerfeld) and Laurent Stocker (Sarkozy), several from the Comedie Francaise and all with good dialogues.

“The Apprentice” (The Apprentice, Canada-Denmark-Ireland, 2024); Dir.: Ali Abassi; Int.: Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong, Maria Bakalova, Martin Donovan.

“Bernardette, the president’s wife” (Bernardette, France, 2024); Dir.: Int.: Catherine Deneuve, Denis Podalydes, Olivier Breitman, Laurent Stocker.