Conquest, The

About the Film

In The Conquest, Denis Podalydès delivers a witty yet commanding portrayal of Nicolas Sarkozy and his rise to the French presidency through the lens of his unraveling marriage to then-wife Cecilia (Florence Pernel). Never one to disguise his ambition, the film's Sarkozy curries favor with predecessor Jacques Chirac (Bernard Le Coq) and spars gamely with glib rival Dominique de Villepin (Samuel Labarthe). This lampoon depicts the future president of France as a bold and unashamed virtuoso of political combat, whose inattention to his disintegrating domestic partnership emerges as his chief vulnerability. With leads brilliantly etching sharp characterizations of living politicians, director Xavier Durringer need never veer too far from reality, even while deploying fictional embellishments and a larger-than-life sense of humor that—with Nicola Piovani's buoyant score—giddily evoke a circus-like atmosphere.

Starring: Denis Podalydes, Florence Pernel, Bernard Le Coq, Hippolyte Girardot, Samuel Labarthe

Director: Xavier Durringer

Official Site: http://www.theconquestmovie.com/

Awards

• Cesar Award Nominations 2012 - Best Actor (Denis Podalydes) Best Supporting Actor (Bernard Le Coq)
• Cannes Film Festival 2011 - Official Selection

Cast & Crew

Cast

Nicolas Sarkozy: Denis Podalydès
Cécilia Sarkozy: Florence Pernel
Jacques Chirac: Bernard Le Coq
Bernadette Chirac: Michèle Moretti

Crew

Director: Xavier Durringer
Writers: Xavier Durringer (adaptation), Patrick Rotman (screenplay)
Producers: Eroc Altmeyer, Nicolas Altmeyer
Cinematography: Gilles Porte
Editor: Catherine Schwartz
Original Music: Nicola Piovani

Technical Info

Production Year: 2011
Countries of Production: France
Languages: French
Running Time: 1h 45m
Screen Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: Dolby Digital
Color: Color
Rating: Unrated

Conquest, The - Press Page

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Awards

• Cesar Award Nominations 2012 - Best Actor (Denis Podalydes) Best Supporting Actor (Bernard Le Coq)
• Cannes Film Festival 2011 - Official Selection

Detailed Film Info

Denis Podalydès delivers a witty yet commanding portrayal of Nicolas Sarkozy and his rise to the French presidency through the lens of his unraveling marriage to then-wife Cecilia (Florence Pernel). Never one to disguise his ambition, the film’s Sarkozy curries favor with predecessor Jacques Chirac (Bernard Le Coq) and spars gamely with glib rival Dominique de Villepin (Samuel Labarthe). This lampoon depicts the future president of France as a bold and unashamed virtuoso of political combat, whose inattention to his disintegrating domestic partnership emerges as his chief vulnerability. With leads brilliantly etching sharp characterizations of living politicians, director Xavier Durringer need never veer too far from reality, even while deploying fictional embellishments and a larger-than-life sense of humor that—with Nicola Piovani’s buoyant score—giddily evoke a circus-like atmosphere.