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French de Gaulle film challenges Britain’s idealised view of Churchill
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.
In short
- 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.
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The case for
A more complicated portrayal of Churchill can help audiences understand the real choices and uncertainties behind wartime leadership, rather than treating national figures as beyond criticism. Recognising his mistakes and ambitions need not diminish his achievements; it can make historical judgement more credible and encourage a more honest view of national history.
The case against
A film centred on de Gaulle and told largely from a French perspective may offer a partial view of Churchill, and its dramatic choices should not be mistaken for a balanced historical account. Emphasising flaws can also risk obscuring the exceptional pressures of wartime leadership and the scale of Churchill’s contribution, especially if audiences lack the context to weigh both fairly.
Explained simply
Charles de Gaulle led the Free French forces after France was defeated by Germany in 1940, working from exile to keep French resistance going. Winston Churchill, Britain’s prime minister during much of the Second World War, was a central ally, though the two leaders had a sometimes difficult relationship over who should speak for France and shape its future.
Churchill is widely remembered in Britain for leading the country through the war, and is often treated as a national hero. Historians and writers also debate his political choices, ambitions and mistakes. How leaders are remembered matters because national stories can shape how people understand the past and judge those in power.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “PETER HITCHENS: It is three hours long and in French – but here is why this brilliant new film about Winston Churchill’s flaws is a crucial lesson for Britain”.