Like Mozart in high school, _De Gaulle_ is classical and academic. It's a by-the-history-book film that digs as deep as a Wikipedia article, though credit is due for 1) the actors (Lambert Wilson is perfect in the titular role), 2) the interesting history lesson on the German invasion of France and rise of Pétain and 3) perhaps most importantly, the openness with which this film approached De Gaulle's cherished relationship with his youngest daughter Anne, born with down syndrome. Apart from that, De Gaulle is little more than a reminder that we need to get some fresh heroes.

There are emotions in the portrait of General De Gaulle that do not thrill and a narrative construction that is weak, creating a flat character to reinforce his heroic attitude. Although it dedicates many minutes to the figure of Yvonne De Gaulle, this family intimacy is only conceived as support for the idealization of the main character. It is a failed portrait due to the low critical ambition of the proposal.