Fascinated by the idea of dying, François Mitterrand stage-managed his own death down to the last detail, like a king would do. The « art of dying » became an essential part of his public persona, nothing was left to chance… Two days after his death on January 8th, 1996, French daily Le Monde revealed a state secret: Mitterrand had cancer since his first term of office.
Two weeks later, Dr. Gubler’s book “The Big Secret” had the effect of a bombshell – he explained how he came to falsify the president’s health bulletins for nearly 14 years.
After having sold 40.000 copies on the first day, the book is withdrawn for reasons of violation of the medical secret. No book has suffered censorship of this kind in France since 1975. Gubler and two of Mitterrand’s surgeons testify in a deeply observing film that is neither analysis of Mitterrand’s life nor accusation or glorification of his political career.

AVAILABLE FOR SCREENING: Original French version only;