President Mitterrand – The prince and his image

From 1987 until 1993, Hugues Le Paige was one of the few journalists allowed into French President Mitterrands Inner Circle in the Elysee Palace, with exclusive access to him. As a result, this film is a collection of important and insightful clips from La Paiges personal footage and interviews he made with Mitterand during the waning years of his Presidency. Years after Mitterrands death, the filmmaker has now completed a sincere and personal reflection on the image of the Prince, and his ability to manipulate power.

Political Relevance

Francois Mitterrand (1916-1996) was a French politician. In 1971, he became head of the Parti Socialiste. In 1981 Mitterrand defeated the incumbent conservative, Valery Giscard d’Estaing. Mitterrand became the first socialist of the Fifth Republic to be elected President of France by universal suffrage. The Parti Socialiste lost its majority in the French National Assembly in 1986, forcing Mitterrand to cohabit with the conservative government of Jacques Chirac. Nevertheless, Mitterrand was re-elected President in 1988 and remained so until 1995.

Scenes

An angry Francois Mitterrand
President Francois Mitterrand, annoyed by the questions of director Hugues Le Paige, doesn’t want to cooperate anymore.
The image of President Mitterrand
For years, director Le Paige was able to film President Francois Mitterrand. In this scene he talks about the image of Mitterrand and the way the President manipulated this image.
The parental house of Mitterrand
President Francois Mitterrand visits his parental house where he grew up. He walks through the rooms in the house and garden, while talking about his family.
Mitterrand and advisor discuss book about his work
In this clip, we see President Francois Mitterrand and an advisor discuss the content of a book written about his work, in his office in the Elysee Palace.
Mitterrand’s social skills
In this clip it becomes clear that President Francois Mitterrand had a clever way of treating people, for example journalists, by flattering and praising them.
Mitterrand: the Alphonse de Lamartine tour
Here we see President Francois Mitterrand on his annual ‘Alphonse de Lamartine tour’. Mitterrand was a fan of the French poet and republican Lamartine.
Electoral defeat of Parti Socialiste in 1993
In 1993 the Parti Socialiste, the political party of President Francois Mitterrand, lost the legislative elections. In this clip, the atmosphere amongst the party members and ministers at the Elysee Palace is captured.