Still from The President's Wife (2023), by Léa Domenach.
Still from The President's Wife (2023), by Léa Domenach.
The President’s Wife (Bernadette)
2:30 pm–4:15 pm
Directed by Léa Domenach (France, USA, and Belgium, 2023, 92 min.). French with English subtitles.
In this wittily fictionalized biopic, French icon Catherine Deneuve steals the spotlight as Bernadette Chirac, the long-overlooked First Lady of France who decides it’s time to rewrite her own legacy. While her husband, President Jacques Chirac (Michel Vuillermoz), basks in political power and personal oblivion, Bernadette embarks on a transformation—from ridiculed spouse in retro skirt suits to media-savvy operator with a modern edge.
Blending real historical moments with gleefully fictionalized episodes, director Léa Domenach crafts a sharp, satirical portrait of image-making, ambition, and late-in-life reinvention. Deneuve delivers a droll performance that anchors the film’s mix of political farce and pop-feminist flair, while Denis Podalydès shines as her loyal right-hand man.
“A puckish, highly fictionalized biopic with a pop-feminist edge … with the French film icon Catherine Deneuve bringing glamour and droll gusto to the part.” —New York Times
Wheelchair accessible
With English subtitles
Ticket Information
To order tickets by phone, call 1-800-440-6975 ($6 processing fee applies); to order in person, visit any MFA ticket desk.
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