A film about rising nationalism in Europe featuring a character similar to French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is set to hit screens in France two months ahead of elections -- and Le Pen's allies are furious.
"Chez nous" ("Our Home"), which lands in French cinemas in February ahead of the first round of presidential polls in April, tells the tale of a nurse in northern France who is approached to be a candidate for the "Patriotic Bloc" party.
The branding and message of the hardline group and its blond female boss leave little doubt that Belgian director Lucas Belvaux modelled it on the National Front (FN), which has surged in opinion polls.
Le Pen's close confidant and vice-president of the party Florian Philippot called it "scandalous" that a "clearly anti-National Front" film was being released during campaigning.
"Having seen the trailer... it looks like a real turkey," he said on Sunday in an interview with French media.
Other National Front leaders, including Gilles Pennelle from the western Brittany region, have hit out at the film and its "disrespect for the French people and its freedom of expression".
Belvaux responded on Monday, saying that he had been surprised by the strength of the reaction to the drama which sees veteran actress Catherine Jacob play the Le Pen character.
Read more: Flash - Film featuring Le Pen character angers France's far-right - France 24
"Chez nous" ("Our Home"), which lands in French cinemas in February ahead of the first round of presidential polls in April, tells the tale of a nurse in northern France who is approached to be a candidate for the "Patriotic Bloc" party.
The branding and message of the hardline group and its blond female boss leave little doubt that Belgian director Lucas Belvaux modelled it on the National Front (FN), which has surged in opinion polls.
Le Pen's close confidant and vice-president of the party Florian Philippot called it "scandalous" that a "clearly anti-National Front" film was being released during campaigning.
"Having seen the trailer... it looks like a real turkey," he said on Sunday in an interview with French media.
Other National Front leaders, including Gilles Pennelle from the western Brittany region, have hit out at the film and its "disrespect for the French people and its freedom of expression".
Belvaux responded on Monday, saying that he had been surprised by the strength of the reaction to the drama which sees veteran actress Catherine Jacob play the Le Pen character.
Read more: Flash - Film featuring Le Pen character angers France's far-right - France 24
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