De Gaulle: Resistance is the first part of a 2026 epic biographical drama film directed by Antonin Baudry, who co-wrote the screenplay with Bérénice Vila. It is based on the nonfiction book A Certain Idea of France: The Life of Charles de Gaulle by Julian Jackson. It had its World Premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May and was released in the UK on Friday 28 August. The second part, De Gaulle: Liberté, will be released in the coming months.

Following the capitulation of France to the Nazis in June 1940, Charles de Gaulle (Simon Abkarian), flees to London where, on his own initiative, he forms the Free French government-in-exile. He sends emissaries to the French Equatorial African colonies (notably Chad and Middle Congo) and persuades them to ditch their support for the puppet French government in Vichy and throw their lot in with him. He travels to Brazzaville, which he makes the effective capital of Free France in Africa. He instructs the 1st Free French Brigade, under General Marie-Pierre Kœnig (Benoît Magimel), to defend the outpost of Bir Hakeim in the Libyan desert against Rommel’s Afrika Korps. This they do against tremendous odds, holding out for over a fortnight, delaying the German advance through North Africa sufficiently to allow the British Army to regroup prior to the Battle of El Alamein. There ends the (history) lesson.

The film focuses on de Gaulle’s relationship with Winston Churchill (Simon Russell Beale) and on the continuing struggle against the Vichy Government. It is naturally rather sympathetic to de Gaulle and glorifies many of his deeds, perhaps, overstating their importance to the eventual outcome of the war. Having said that, it makes for a very good war film, in the fine traditions of The Dambusters, The Battle of Britain, The Longest Day, etc, and perhaps they could be charged with the same glorification. After all, it is the victors who write the history books, and indeed make the films.

A separate strand of the film follows a young French patriot Fernand Bonnier de la Chapelle (Florian Lesieur) who refuses to accept the authority of Vichy, continues to support de Gaulle, and ultimately commits a decisive blow against Vichy in Algeria, but I cannot tell you what he did, because that would spoil the film.

If you are interested in Twentieth Century history then this is a film for you, provided you don’t take it as gospel – I found a bit of reading around the subject after watching was very useful in obtaining a little balance. However, the film romps along at a good pace, never dragging despite the 158-minute running time. It is well written and well directed, and Abkarian’s de Gaulle is fascinating and annoying in equal measures, just as I am sure the great man was in real life. The supporting cast, of which there are far too many to list, was strong, and I want to mention particularly Magimel who is excellent as Kœnig.

De Gaulle: Resistance is well worth a few hours of your time and I heartily recommend it. I am looking forward to the second part some time in the next couple of months.