Le Bon plaisir (1984)
Directed by Francis Girod

Film Review

Despite some above average production values, this is a very dry political satire which never seems to get going.  Although the performances from its stars, particularly Serrault and Trintignant, are up to scratch, the characters are generally uninteresting and appear disinterested in what is happening to them.  There are some nice comic touches, and the ending is quite dramatic.  But the film doesn't really have a clear theme, which is both unsatisfying and irritating.

The parallels with the real-life President of France are there (Trintigant's President bears more than a passing similarity to  François Mitterand), but are hardly subtle.  You are left with the feeling that what could have been a very astute political satire has ended up as a rather mediocre suspense drama.

Film Synopsis

For Claire Despres, a talented young fashion designer, the theft of her handbag in broad daylight ought to be a matter of personal inconvenience, nothing more.  The fact that the bag contains a compromising letter, written to her by the man who is now the President of France, lends the theft a considerable seriousness, the extent of which Claire is yet to fully appreciate.  Ten years ago, the young woman had an affair with the future President which resulted in her giving birth to their illegitimate offspring.  In the letter, the reluctant father begged Claire never to divulge the existence of the child.  If the contents of the letter were to be made public, it would at the very least provoke a political crisis, and might even bring an ignominious end to the President's career in public life.

Once he has been tipped off by Claire, the Minister of the Interior wastes no time in setting in motion a massive police hunt to find the thief who stole her bag.  Whilst the thief, Pierre, remains blissfully in the dark as to the significance of the stolen letter, a friend of his, a seasoned journalist named Hubert, immediately recognises its value and hides it away until he can make use of it.  Realising he may have got himself into very deep water, Pierre goes on the run from the police, but manages to get himself knocked down by a car.  This is just the pretext Hubert needs to put the damning contents of the letter into print.  It will be the last thing he does...