Charles de Gaulle biopic puts British historian in spotlight

British historian Julian Jackson has helped shape a two-part French biopic about Charles de Gaulle that has become a major cinema success in France.

Jackson, 72, wrote the modern de Gaulle biography “A Certain Idea of France”, which became popular with French readers after its 2019 translation. The book formed the basis for the films directed by Antonin Baudry, and Jackson advised on the adaptation and script.

The films have sold nearly six million cinema tickets. Jackson told AFP that their appeal says something about French politics and memory.

“The first thing is that clearly there's a kind of disenchantment with politics in France right now,” Jackson said. He said viewers appeared to find reassurance in a figure who made politics feel “magical again”.

Jackson also said he was surprised by how little many French viewers knew about de Gaulle's full story, especially his wartime role. De Gaulle led the Free France movement after rejecting the 1940 armistice with Nazi Germany and went on to build links with colonial territories, the Resistance inside France and Allied leaders.

Jackson said many people remember de Gaulle mainly as the post-war leader who returned in 1958 during the crisis over French-run Algeria and helped create the Fifth Republic.

Asked about modern parallels, Jackson said he was wary of simple comparisons. He described the current period as part of a wider crisis of liberal democracy, not only a French one.