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The historical biographical drama De Gaulle, l'éclat et le secret, directed by Antonin Baudry and starring acclaimed French-Armenian actor Simon Abkarian, was screened in Yerevan on July 16 as part of the Golden Apricot International Film Festival.
The film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, recounts the events of June 1940, when, following France's capitulation, the little-known General Charles de Gaulle traveled to London to launch the Free France movement and continue the fight against Nazi occupation.
Abkarian portrays de Gaulle with what critics have described as remarkable depth, bringing the historic figure to life through a nuanced performance marked by respect and conviction.
The second part of the two-film project, De Gaulle: Liberation, will be screened in Yerevan on July 18.
Both Abkarian and Baudry attended the Yerevan premiere.
Baudry noted that Armenia is the first country after France where the films are being screened.
He described De Gaulle, l'éclat et le secret and De Gaulle: Liberation as works that combine tragedy and comedy, while emphasizing that tragedy ultimately prevails.
"The film is really about what people feel when they face the possibility of losing their country. At that time, both the French and the British were living through uncertainty. Yet it is precisely in such moments that a hero believes in his dream and resistance is born," Baudry said.
"I am delighted to present this film in Armenia because Armenians certainly know what resistance means. The second reason for showing it here is Simon."
The director also recalled a well-known anecdote according to which U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt once decided that a film should be made about Charles de Gaulle and asked a young William Faulkner to write the screenplay. Although Faulkner produced several scripts, the story goes that de Gaulle himself was ultimately removed because no suitable actor could be found to portray him.
"When I began this project, I knew finding the right actor to play Charles de Gaulle would be one of its greatest challenges," Baudry said. "Simon Abkarian was the perfect choice and succeeded in embodying an entire nation."
Preparing for the role, Abkarian spent nearly three weeks studying archival materials, watching de Gaulle's interviews and films about his life before setting the research aside in order to create his own artistic interpretation of the character.
"You can simply imitate such figures-their voice and gestures-but that has never interested me," Abkarian said during an earlier meeting with audiences. "I wanted to make the role my own, to give it a body and a voice through imagination."
During the Yerevan premiere, Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan awarded Abkarian the ministry's Gold Medal for his outstanding contribution to world theatre and cinema, his role in promoting Armenian culture internationally, and his long-standing efforts to strengthen Armenian-French cultural ties.
Abkarian also received the Golden Apricot International Film Festival's honorary Master Award.
The actor began his career in the early 1980s in the United States before joining Ariane Mnouchkine's Théâtre du Soleil. Since the 1990s, he has appeared extensively in French and international cinema, collaborating with directors including Cédric Klapisch, Atom Egoyan, Robert Guédiguian, Sally Potter and Fatih Akın.
His screen credits include portrayals of Arshile Gorky, Missak Manouchian and now Charles de Gaulle. International audiences also know him for his roles in Aram and the James Bond film Casino Royale.
In theatre, Abkarian has received several Molière Awards, including honors for Best Actor, Best Director, and Best French-language Playwright.