The Conquest (2011) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Sarkozy's drive to win the presidency advances alongside political rivalries and a marriage strained by the demands of his ambition.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

Ambition Meets Political Resistance

Sarkozy seeks the presidency as debate turns to Chirac's succession. Being passed over for prime minister pushes him to build his own power base, provoking a dispute over UMP leadership.

Key Events

• Sarkozy Pursues the Presidency — Sarkozy aims to rise from government spokesman and minister to France's highest office. Characters: Nicolas Sarkozy Location: French political arena
• Chirac's Succession Becomes Central — Debate over Chirac's succession brings Sarkozy's ambition into focus. Characters: Nicolas Sarkozy, Jacques Chirac Location: French political arena
• Sarkozy Is Passed Over — After Sarkozy is passed over for the prime minister's post, he resolves to build his own power base. Characters: Nicolas Sarkozy, Jacques Chirac Location: Government
• The UMP Leadership Dispute — Sarkozy seeks UMP leadership while holding a government position, despite Chirac's warning. Characters: Nicolas Sarkozy, Jacques Chirac Location: French political arena

Campaign Strategy and Private Strain

Sarkozy and his advisers consider how to reach voters unsettled by economic change. Cécilia helps organize a major convention, while disagreements and Attias's presence deepen the strain in their marriage.

Key Events

• Cécilia Advises Sarkozy — Cécilia argues that the Finance Ministry offers influence while party leadership risks making Sarkozy look ordinary. Characters: Nicolas Sarkozy, Cécilia Sarkozy Location: Private setting
• Campaign Strategy Targets Workers — Sarkozy and his advisers consider reaching workers anxious about globalization and economic change. Characters: Nicolas Sarkozy Location: Campaign setting
• Cécilia Organizes the Convention — Cécilia helps organize a major party convention as the couple's relationship grows more strained. Characters: Nicolas Sarkozy, Cécilia Sarkozy Location: Party convention
• Attias Enters the Marital Tension — Richard Attias becomes part of the tension between Sarkozy and Cécilia. Characters: Nicolas Sarkozy, Cécilia Sarkozy, Richard Attias Location: Private setting

The Rivalry and the Campaign

Sarkozy tells de Villepin that he will run for president, but de Villepin refuses to become a candidate. Sarkozy continues toward the election on his own path.

Key Events

• Sarkozy Challenges de Villepin — Sarkozy tells de Villepin that he will run for president regardless. Characters: Nicolas Sarkozy, Dominique de Villepin Location: French political arena
• de Villepin Declines the Race — De Villepin refuses to become a candidate, leaving Sarkozy to pursue his own path. Characters: Nicolas Sarkozy, Dominique de Villepin Location: French political arena
• The Presidential Campaign Advances — Sarkozy continues his campaign after asserting that he will seek the presidency. Characters: Nicolas Sarkozy Location: Campaign setting

Victory and Private Loneliness

Sarkozy wins the election with 53 percent of the vote, achieving a public and political triumph. The news that Cécilia will not return to the role he hoped for leaves him asking for solitude and contemplating meditation before the work ahead.

Key Events

• Sarkozy Wins the Election — Sarkozy wins with 53 percent of the vote against his opponent's 47 percent. Characters: Nicolas Sarkozy Location: Election
• Cécilia Will Not Return — Sarkozy learns that Cécilia will not vote alongside him or return to the role he hoped she would share. Characters: Nicolas Sarkozy, Cécilia Sarkozy Location: Private setting
• Sarkozy Asks for Solitude — As advisers arrange his schedule and congratulate him, Sarkozy asks for time alone. Characters: Nicolas Sarkozy Location: Private setting
• The Monastery Reflection — Sarkozy speaks of withdrawing to a monastery to meditate and prepare for the work ahead. Characters: Nicolas Sarkozy Location: Private setting

Story Breakdown

• Presidential Ambition — Sarkozy sets his sights on the highest office as Chirac's succession becomes a political question.
  • Succession Debate — Sarkozy's ambition becomes conspicuous as discussion turns to who will succeed Chirac.
  • Prime Minister Setback — After being passed over for prime minister, Sarkozy resolves to build his own power base.
• The UMP Power Base — Sarkozy pursues party leadership as part of his route to the presidency, despite Chirac's warning.
  • Leadership Pursuit — Sarkozy seeks leadership of the UMP while holding a government position.
  • Chirac's Warning — Chirac argues that combining party leadership and government office would upset the balance of power.
• Cécilia's Counsel — Cécilia offers political advice even as Sarkozy's ambition places pressure on their private life.
  • Finance Ministry Advice — Cécilia says the Finance Ministry offers real influence and warns that the UMP could make Sarkozy look like just another politician.
  • Marriage Under Strain — Their disagreements reveal a marriage increasingly consumed by Sarkozy's political life.
• Campaign Outreach — Sarkozy and his advisers consider how to broaden their appeal beyond business supporters.
  • Working Class Voters — Advisers urge an appeal to workers anxious about globalization and economic change.
  • Party Convention — Cécilia helps organize a major party convention as their relationship becomes more strained.
• Personal Tension — The pressures on Sarkozy's marriage intensify during the developing campaign.
  • Attias Enters Tension — Richard Attias becomes part of the tension between Cécilia and Sarkozy.
  • Private Life Eclipsed — The plot presents political ambition as consuming the couple's private life.
• Rivalry with de Villepin — Sarkozy asserts his presidential plans in the face of a political rival.
  • Presidential Declaration — Sarkozy tells de Villepin that he will run for president regardless.
  • de Villepin Declines — De Villepin refuses to become a candidate, leaving Sarkozy to pursue his own path.
• Election Victory — Sarkozy achieves a decisive public victory, but the result does not repair his private troubles.
  • Fifty Three Percent — Sarkozy wins with 53 percent of the vote against his opponent's 47 percent.
  • Personal Triumph — The victory is both a political success and a personal achievement.
• Loneliness After Victory — The closing moments contrast public success with Sarkozy's private isolation and apprehension about the work ahead.
  • Cécilia Will Not Return — Sarkozy learns that Cécilia will not vote alongside him or return to the role he hoped she would share.
  • Seeking Solitude — Sarkozy asks for time alone and speaks of withdrawing to a monastery to meditate and prepare.

Directed by

Xavier Durringer

Key Cast

• Denis Podalydès — Nicolas Sarkozy
• Florence Pernel — Cécilia Sarkozy
• Bernard Le Coq — Jacques Chirac
• Michèle Moretti — Bernadette Chirac
• Samuel Labarthe — Dominique de Villepin