«Gentlemen, our conversation is over. I didn’t think we would stoop to such a degree of despicability. » The offended man speaking these words was François Mitterrand, the French President at the time. In March 1993, two journalists questioned him on the Elysée Palace wiretapping scandal which had just come to light. The President of the Republic denied everything and was disparaging. Who set up this formidable STASI-style intelligence mechanism? Who was pulling the strings? How did this hidden cabinet work? It would take almost twenty years of investigations to get to the bottom of this large-scale spying organisation.

A film by Mélanie Dalsace
In the collection History’s Greatest Lies
Based on an original idea by Anne Labro
Produced by Loren Baux-Richardot
Co-written by Barbara Tapie
Presented by Fabrice d’Almeida
Image by Hervé Glabeck and Christophe Petit
Original music by Nicolas Neidhardt

A Compagnie des Phares & Balises production
With the participation of RMC Story, RMC Découverte, LCP-Assemblée Nationale, RTBF, Speigel TV, RTP, Planète + Poland and Odisea
With the support of the Centre National du Cinéma et de l’Image Animée
French broadcaster: RMC Découverte
International Sales: CLPB Rights – Julie Tolza

© Cie des Phares & Balises – 2020