Antonin Baudry film explores Charles de Gaulle's resistance in 1940

The film ‘La Bataille de Gaulle: L’Âge de fer’, directed by Antonin Baudry, depicts the historical period following France's capitulation to Germany in June 1940. The narrative focuses on Charles de Gaulle, who refused the armistice and fled to London to continue the fight for French freedom despite lacking an established army or widespread support.

The production emphasizes historical realism through the use of archival-based costumes, maps, and language. It follows De Gaulle's strategic interactions with figures such as Winston Churchill and explores the emergence of the Resistance across France and Africa, including the involvement of students and Jewish soldiers in the Free French Forces.

While the film is noted for its meticulous attention to historical detail and its portrayal of the civilian experience through characters like Fernand Bonnier de la Chapelle, critics observe that it balances between biography, documentary, and fiction, sometimes prioritizing a patriotic perspective over psychological depth.