2006

France

95min - 35 mm - Color - 1.85 - Dolby SRD - Drama

Original language :French

Cast

Yvan ATTAL
Stefania ROCCA
Laurent GREVILL
Guillaume GALLIENNE

Credits

Director: Niels Arestrup

Producer : Pascal Verroust (ADR PRODUCTIONS)

Screenplay : Niels Arestrup
Director of photography : Romain Winding
Sound : Brigitte Taillandier
Editing : Sylvie Gadmer
Costumes : Carine Sarfati
Set : Thierry François

Festivals & Awards

2007 :
Copenhagen IFF
Cinemania
French Film Fest Montreal
Facets French Film Fest Chicago
2008 :
Bratislava French Film Fest

Candidate (The)

CANDIDAT (LE)

a film by :Niels Arestrup

When his party’s presidential candidate is struck down with an advanced case of cancer just prior to the presidential elections, Michel Dedieu is chosen to replace him. Only weeks before the deciding election, he and his closest advisors have precious little time to prepare for the upcoming TV debate with his opponent. Disdained by the media and held in low esteem by the public, he has to improve his image and develop a convincing argument. He gathers his team around him on his private estate to organize for the telling confrontation. The candidate, by nature fragile and willing to bend to every demand his staff makes upon him, is driven to the edge of exhaustion before he realizes that he’s a pawn in a ghastly manipulation, from which he can escape only if he marches to his own drumbeat.

French Synopsis :

Peu avant l’élection présidentielle d’un état européen, Michel Dedieu a remplacé au pied levé le candidat de son parti, contraint de se retirer à cause d’un cancer fulgurant. Au lendemain du premier tour, il ne lui reste que très peu de temps pour préparer avec son équipe rapprochée, le débat télévisé qui l’opposera à son adversaire. Peu apprécié des médias et de l’opinion, il doit à tout prix améliorer son image et affiner son argumentaire. À cette fin, il organise un week-end de travail dans sa propriété. Le candidat, d’abord docile et fragile se plie à toutes les exigences de son staff, quand, arrivé au bord de l’épuisement, il découvre qu’il est en fait prisonnier d’une terrible manipulation dont il ne s’extraira qu’en jouant sa propre partition…

Trailer

>>Download the trailer

Photos

19211310
>>Download the images