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.