The hell of Matignon
For the first time, the Prime Ministers of France are brought together in a documentary series to bear witness to a unique experience: the hell of Matignon. Pierre Messmer, Raymond Barre, Pierre Mauroy, Laurent Fabius, Michel Rocard, Edith Cresson, Edouard Balladur, Alain Juppé, Lionel Jospin, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Dominique de Villepin, and François Fillon have all agreed to participate. Those who have governed France for the past 35 years speak candidly about the practice of power, a story chronicled through archival footage. As the Fifth Republic approaches its 50th anniversary, and texts envisioning a Sixth are being published, the position of Prime Minister—torn between the President and Parliament, appointed without necessarily being elected, yet responsible for everything—is at the heart of the debate.
Episodes4
The Antechamber
This first episode focuses on the behind-the-scenes of a Prime Minister taking office: the appointment, the handover, the personal dynamic with the President of the Republic, the formation of the government, and the choice of residence. Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Alain Juppé, Edith Cresson, Raymond Barre, and other former heads of government provide their testimony.
The Office
Described by Raffarin as a true "arbitration machine," Matignon is a daunting place where the Prime Minister's field of action is mined. 12 former Prime Ministers testify about the budgetary situation upon their appointment, the sheer scale of the task at hand, and the "intellectual agility" that, according to Jospin, one must possess.
The Corridors
In this third episode, the focus turns to human relationships, and more specifically, the always-complex dynamic between the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic—whether the two are friends or political rivals. According to Michel Rocard, "the chemistry is unique to each pair."
The Vestibule
The end of their term approaches... In this final episode, 12 former Prime Ministers speak on unpopularity, the importance of polls, the French identification of power with the sacred, the difficulty for a woman to attain power, and the relationship between the government and the media. The head of government: loved, rejected, hated...