Backfiring

If the National Rally now appears to be on the brink of power, it is the result of a methodical conquest of the political discourse, initiated a few decades ago under the banner of the National Front. It is the story of a far-right party that, slowly but surely, has imposed its ideological markers, captured working-class voters, and pushed the right to redefine itself. At the same time, it is also the story of traditional parties which, through denial, appropriation, and strategic calculations, have played with fire and contributed to the normalization of their opponent’s rhetoric.

This archive-rich film traces that battle over five decades. By giving a voice to political figures from across the spectrum, it explores the key moments, turning points, and ambiguities that led to the rise of the FN and later the RN, and to the gradual mainstreaming of far-right discourse in public debate.