# French de Gaulle film challenges Britain’s idealised view of Churchill

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/peter-hitchens-it-is-three-hours-long-and-in-french-but-here-is-why-this-brilliant-new-film-about-winston-churchills-flaws-is-a-crucial-lesson-for-britain/
- Published: 2026-09-22T10:28:40+00:00
- Updated: 2026-09-22T10:47:45+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16150833/Video-PETER-HITCHENS-three-hours-long-French-brilliant-new-film-Winston-Churchills-flaws-crucial-lesson-Britain.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Entertainment, Film, UK, World

## Key points

- French film presents Churchill as flawed and uncertain.
- Hitchens says historical figures should not be turned into myths.
- Its demanding length and language are worth enduring.

## Summary

Peter Hitchens praises a lengthy French film about Charles de Gaulle for presenting Winston Churchill as a complicated, flawed and sometimes uncertain politician rather than as an infallible wartime hero. He argues that this more realistic portrayal offers an important lesson for Britain: national leaders should be judged honestly, including for their mistakes and weaknesses, rather than reduced to comforting patriotic myths.

The film, which runs for around three hours and is mainly in French, focuses on de Gaulle’s wartime struggle and his relationship with Churchill. Hitchens says its depiction of Churchill’s doubts, ambition and errors makes the film worthwhile despite its demanding length and language, and suggests that recognising Churchill’s flaws strengthens rather than diminishes an understanding of his historical importance.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.