Terrific non Hollywood biopic, compelling, humorous and informative. there are some artistic inaccuracies ( Admiral Darlan’s assassination) but they are more than compensated for by the overall narrative arc, part one of a two part epic.

Part one covers  the period 1940 to 1942, part grand historical saga, part suspenseful geopolitical thriller, and part biographical portrait by French director Antonin Baudry It combines key battles such as Dakar and Bir Hakeim, with personal moments , particularly his dynamic with Churchill

De Gaulle operates on three levels: opposing the German occupation of France amidst WWII battles like Bir Hakeim and student protests for freedom in Paris; challenging the Vichy government by attempting to take control of French colonies in Africa; and dealing with his allies while aware that France might come under Anglo-American influence. He must navigate complex relationships with Churchill in England and Roosevelt in the US. Actor Simon Abkarian’s portrayal gives De Gaulle a tragicomic, Don Quixote-like aura, with a stoic presence that highlights his stubbornness. De Gaulle emerges as a solitary, unconventional hero.