Bernadette (film)

Bernadette is a 2023 French biographical comedy film co-written and directed by Léa Domenach in her directorial debut. The film stars Catherine Deneuve in titular role of Bernadette Chirac, French politician and the widow of the former president Jacques Chirac, with Denis Podalydès, Michel Vuillermoz and Sara Giraudeau in pivotal roles. It was released on 4 October 2023 in cinemas in France by Warner Bros. Pictures.[2]

Bernadette
Promotional poster
Directed byLéa Domenach
Screenplay by
  • Léa Domenach
  • Clémence Dargent
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyElin Kirschfink
Edited byChristel Dewynter
Music byAnne-Sophie Versnaeyen
Production
companies
Distributed byWarner Bros. Pictures
Release date
  • 4 October 2023 (2023-10-04) (France)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench
Box officeUS$4.35 million[1]

Synopsis

The film follows Bernadette Chirac (Catherine Deneuve), during the two presidential mandates of her husband, Jacques Chirac (Michel Vuillermoz), that is to say from 1995, until the election of Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007.

Cast
Catherine Deneuve in 2017

Production

In April 2022, it was announced that Catherine Deneuve will play Bernadette Chirac in a biographical film entitled La Tortue. This is the first feature film directed by Léa Domenach.[4]

Filming began on 25 April 2022 in Reims, Épernay, Châlons-en-Champagne and Paris. It was wrapped up on 27 June 2022.[5]

Release

Orange Studio unveiled first footage of the film at the Unifrance Rendez-Vous in Paris in January 2023.[6]

The film had its premiere at Helvetia French Film Festival on 17 September 2023.[7] It was released in France and Belgium on 4 October 2023. Later it will be released in Czech Republic on 30 November by Bohemia Motion Pictures.[8]

Reception

Box office

The film topped the first weekend at French box office with the collection of US$1.6 million,[9] and 267,041 admissions.[10]

As of 26 October 2023 the film has collected US$4,321,485 worldwide.[1]

Critical response

On the AlloCiné, which lists 32 press reviews, the film obtained an average rating of 3.4/5.[11]

Olivier Pélisson rated the film 4/5 for Bande à part and wrote, "A tasty comedy, Léa Domenach's first feature film is a successful cross between an offbeat biopic and a portrait of a woman who asserts herself."[12] Camille Nevers rated the film with 1/5 and wrote, "The interest of this pochade produced with imperturbable softness by Léa Domenach [...] lies in the fact that it is the rare specimen of its time: we have the first officially Macronist film."[13]

References
  1. "Bernadette". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  2. Domenach, Léa (4 October 2023). "Bernadette". Cineuropa. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  3. Willsher, Kim (8 July 2023). "Catherine Deneuve to portray Bernadette Chirac in satirical film". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  4. Brigitte Baronnet (8 April 2022). "Cette célèbre actrice va jouer Bernadette Chirac au cinéma!" [This famous actress will play Bernadette Chirac in the cinema!]. AlloCiné (in French). Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  5. "Bernadette, Feature Film 2023 – Comedy, Politics, Portrait". Crew United. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  6. Leffler, Rebecca (10 January 2023). "Orange Studio to launch 'Bernadette' starring Catherine Deneuve, 'New Beginnings', 'Magnificat' at Paris RDV (exclusive)". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  7. "Bernadette by Léa Domenach, Grande Première" [Bernadette by Léa Domenach]. Festival du film français d'Helvétie (in French). 17 September 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  8. "Bernadette : International releases". Unifrance. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  9. "French 2023 Weekend 40". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  10. Brigitte Baronnet (11 October 2023). "Une comédie française détrône The Creator au box-office France" [A French comedy dethrones The Creator at the box office France]. AlloCiné (in French). Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  11. "Bernadette" [Bernadette]. AlloCiné (in French). 15 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  12. Olivier Pélisson (4 October 2023). "Bernadette de Léa Domenach, La revanche d'une blonde" [Bernadette by Léa Domenach, Blonde's Revenge]. Bande à part (in French). Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  13. Camille Nevers (3 October 2023). "Comédie?, Bernadette» avec Catherine Deneuve : bobonne à rien" [Comedy? “Bernadette” with Catherine Deneuve: good for nothing]. Libération (in French). Retrieved 15 October 2023.
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