François Mitterrand and Anne Pingeot

In the summer of 1963, François Mitterrand was going through a profound existential crisis. His political career had ground to a halt and, after 19 years of marriage, his relationship had become strained. It was then that François Mitterrand met the woman who was to give new meaning to his life. Anne Pingeot, aged 19, was to become the companion of a lifetime, present throughout his rise to power and by his side until his last breath. For the first time, Anne Pingeot has agreed to allow the fragments of this passionate love affair - hundreds of letters and a diary - to be shown on television, before being donated to the French National Library.

The production of this film was greatly facilitated by the invaluable support and friendly participation of Gallimard and France Culture.