The Minister:The SwallowingState?

Words by

SarahBonnefoi

Politics is all about rites. Movies like The Ides of March by George Clooney or The Conquest, by Xavier Durringer have respectively shown the nomination pro-cesses of presidential candidate and the rise to power of Nicolas Sarkozy.The Minister, by Pierre Schöller, describes the daily life of a Secretary ofState for Transport which is also highly ritualised. The movie received good critics both with the press and the public when it was released in last

October in France. Its nomination in eleven categories- including for best movie- for the César is a promising sign for both The Minister and political movies.

One can only appreciate the renewal of French political movies. During last year’s Cannes festival, Pater by Alain Cavalier was also presented with The

Minister. These movies do not try to tell the truth about politicians, instead they give us clues to understand their world. The Minister follows the daily life of a Secretary of State for Transport, although it could be about any other politician. Bertrand Saint-Jean - played by the

impressive Olivier Gourmet - is always under pressure and busy. He has to take major decisions and yet his counsellors seem to make them for him. He constantly relies on the support of his Minister of State, Gilles - interpreted by a very good Michel Blanc - and his spokeswomen Pauline (Zabou Breitman) and yet he is constantly on the verge of firing them. Politics is highly unstable and everybody- from the president to the chauffeur - needs to fight for his position.

The movie also makes a strong connection between politics, power and sex, or at least seduction. Politicians have to se-duce, it is their job. They seduce the public and other poli-ticians. The opening scene is quite relevant in that way. It takes place in a typical politician’s office. Among several people dressed up like Ku Klux Klan members, a very attrac-tive nude woman throws herself willingly - or so it seems - into the mouth of a living crocodile. In the next scene, Bertrand is awoken by the ringtone of his mobile phone. This intriguing and erotic opening illustrates the broad meaning of power illustrated in the movie (sexual, animal and political). It could also be seen as an interpretation of our politicians’ dreams.

Politics is a strange world where nobody ever seems to laugh. Each politician has his “court” which follows him everywhere. What is more, the ministries are always fighting for their posi-tion and for more power. They talk on the radio and spend their time denying what their colleagues have said about them via wire stories, like squabbling kids. The State is indeed depicted as a rather incestuous family. There is no real ally and you are on your own in front of “The Father”, referring to the President. The latter actually appears briefly once or twice, never looking at anything else than his cell phone’s screen and letting his counsellors speaking for himself.

Pierre Schöller’s movie is efficient. He does not take sides but instead observe the main character as if he was doing a sociological study. There is no explanation, justification or blame. We are put in front of our own leaders and we can see how their world works. Bertrand is not naïve of the politi-cal game. He is playing it to keep his position. He is aware of that and at some point he asks his secretive chauffeur for his opinion on the political world; “does it disgust you, question you, repulse you?” Our politicians are busy, alone and seem to only care about the polls. Is it due a swallowing state as the image of the crocodile seems to suggest? Maybe part of the answer is revealed when Bertrand says to Gilles; are you with me or against me?

"Politicians have to seduce,

it is their job"

The Minister is up for 11 Cesar Awards including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and BestSupporting Actress.

The winners will be announcedat the Cesar Awards Ceremonyon 24 February, 2012.

"Politicians have to seduce,

it is their job"