De Gaulle Epic Challenges WWII Narratives in U.S. Release

The two-part French epic 'De Gaulle' has begun its U.S. theatrical and video-on-demand release. The film, which sold over six million tickets in France, is now playing in major American markets. Each installment runs more than two and a half hours and was produced on a €74 million budget. Distributor Peter Goldwyn compared the project's scale to Hollywood blockbusters rather than conventional European arthouse fare.

The saga stars Simon Abkarian as Charles de Gaulle and Simon Russell Beale as Winston Churchill. Campbell Scott plays Franklin D. Roosevelt. The U.S. premiere occurred Saturday at the American French Film Festival in Los Angeles, where both parts played back-to-back to a packed audience. The screening drew a seven-minute standing ovation.

A Fresh Look at Familiar World War II Leaders

The films challenge standard American and British World War II narratives. They focus on the tensions and complicated relationships between de Gaulle, Churchill, and Roosevelt. Screenwriter Antonin Baudry stated this dynamic remains largely unknown outside academic circles. He argued the story of how the three leaders related to one another has never been fully told to the general public. Baudry's goal was to create a film viewers could follow without prior knowledge of de Gaulle or the period.

To achieve historical accuracy, Baudry and co-screenwriter Bérénice Vila consulted more than 150 books and dug into historical archives. They reconstructed de Gaulle's journey from 1940 to his role as a Resistance leader. Peter Goldwyn noted American audiences have long responded enthusiastically to stories about Roosevelt and Churchill, while de Gaulle's story is relatively untold in America. He described de Gaulle as very patriotic, calling that a very American trait.

Simon Abkarian's Preparation and Approach

Actor Simon Abkarian spent about six months preparing for the role of Charles de Gaulle. He studied the general's rigid posture, distinctive voice, and behavior. Abkarian read the screenplay more than ten times and annotated it extensively. He transcribed every line of his dialogue into a small notebook, which he carried throughout the 150-day shoot and later gave to Baudry.

Abkarian deliberately abandoned the idea of simply reproducing de Gaulle's mannerisms. He stated one cannot become the character in a strictly anthropological way. Instead, he focused on the character's idealism and voice. He and Baudry spent an evening recording de Gaulle's speeches to explore the voice's frequency and musicality. Abkarian found the dialogue really well written and said the extensive monologues came naturally due to his theater background. He also found an easy partner in Simon Russell Beale, noting they share a similar approach to the craft.

U.S. Release Strategy and Market Positioning

Samuel Goldwyn Films is managing the U.S. release. The distributor is rolling out the epic theatrically across major markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Seattle, Austin, Minneapolis, Houston, and Atlanta. The second film, 'De Gaulle: Liberty,' is scheduled for release in early December.

Goldwyn pointed out that the French language makes it hard for theaters to commit to a wide screen count. To overcome this, he paired the theatrical run with a nationwide transactional video-on-demand release available immediately. He argued this combined approach reflects how American cinemas currently operate, stating theaters lack the patience to let foreign-language films be discovered slowly. The distributor is mounting a single marketing campaign targeting arthouse moviegoers, history buffs, schools, cultural institutions, and younger audiences through social media.

Reception and Accessibility Efforts

The film has performed strongly in international markets. In France, it had a slow start but gained momentum through word of mouth, becoming a domestic box office success. In the United Kingdom, the first installment, 'De Gaulle: Resistance,' currently leads this year's box office for French-language films. The film was also recently acquired for release in China by Light Films, with a planned late November opening.

To ensure accessibility, Baudry organized early screenings for young students. This was intended to make the films approachable for people unfamiliar with de Gaulle. Peter Goldwyn is betting the sprawling saga can appeal to U.S. audiences despite featuring a historical figure many Americans aren't familiar with. He compared the film's scale to 'The Odyssey,' noting it is broad and massive but ultimately a character study. The distributor's strategy hinges on the dual theatrical and VOD release to reach audiences despite the films' foreign language and considerable length.