Tuesday, May 17, 2011

La Conquête

Dominique Strauss Kahn, current head of the International Monetary Fund and long thought to be the Socialist Party's best bet to unseat President Sarkozy in next year's election, appears to have self destructed over the weekend.  He was hauled off an Air France flight just before it left New York and charged with sexual assault by a maid at the hotel where he'd been staying.  Whether DSK is actually guilty or not, my guess is that his chances for becoming France's next president are now next to nil.  And for President Sarkozy, whose public opinion numbers are already in the toilet, this probably couldn't be better news.  And the timing is exquisite.  La Conquête, a controversial and apparently highly unflattering film about Sarkozy's bid for the presidency in 2007,  is set to release Wednesday and all the world is abuzz.

Posters for the film (which depict the diminutive Sarkozy perched on a stool, legs dangling) went up last week and everyone I've seen has been on one of these boards attached to a flagpole.  (There's even one just across the street from the Elysee.)  I haven't seen one in the subway, on a bus shelter, or on a Morris column.  Coincidence?

I'd really like to see the film but I know already from having seen the trailer that it's going to be a tough row given my French skills.  Maybe one of you fluent speakers out there would like to go with me and help me through the parts I don't get?

Update (Tuesday at 10:00 am):  Oh la la la la!  The news is moving fast.  In an interview with a German magazine, Sarkozy's father finally confirmed the rumors that have been circulating for weeks -- Mme. Sarkozy is indeed pregnant.  Now how will that play at the polls?

9 comments:

weekend et coup de brosse said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
weekend et coup de brosse said...

Bonjour Anne
OUI, ou est la vérité? dans tout cela la droite est bien servie effectivement. DSK était le meilleur candidat de la 'gauche' évidemment!

je découvre ton blog, et je suis curieuse des personnes Américaines vivant à Paris, car j'aime leurs façons de voir les choses, j'aime découvrir les autres, et j'adore NYC!
à bientôt
cath

Unknown said...

I definitely want to see the Sarko movie but I have a feeling it will be disappointing. As for whether the DSK scandal will help Sarkozy - the American pundits are saying it will while the French are saynig the opposite! What an interesting turn of events for the end of your stay!

Paulita said...

The DSK case is so bizarre. I am astonished. Could it be a set up? Why did he leave things, like his cell phone, in his hotel and make a run for the airport? The fact that the maid was an immigrant from Africa makes it even worse since he is head of the IMF which is supposed to help out underdeveloped countries. I think we've entered an alternate universe.

Mary Kay Bosshart said...

Thanks for the news update on Carla's pregnancy - who's the father? ;-)

Starman said...

I've heard the French are up in arms about the way Strauss Kahn is being paraded in the news. Is that true?

Anne said...

Starman: Definitely.

LynneG said...

(to Starman & Anne)-with good reason too, I think- the US would JAMAIS treat our own dignitaries with such display and disrespect: handcuffs? never! it is quite curious...

Sweet Freak said...

44 days?! Eek!

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