The new series The Regime, starring actress Kate Winslet, has been available on Prime Video since the beginning of March. The synopsis? A year at the heart of the ups and downs of a European state under an authoritarian regime in decline.
Powerful, dark and comic : it’s an explosive mix. Available in France from 4 March on Prime Video with the Warner Pass, The Regime comprises six episodes lasting less than an hour. Produced by HBO, this mini-series highlights the story of a modern authoritarian regime that is crumbling. Discover a magnetising production with a five-star cast, directed by the screenwriters of Succession.
A galvanising story
The Crown, Marseille, House of Cards, Homeland, Borgen, A Woman in Power… Over the last few years, the cinematic landscape has seen a plethora of behind-the-scenes series about politics and power. The latest of these, The Regime, was unveiled at the beginning of March.
The story follows the torments of Chancellor Elena Vernham, played by Kate Winslet, who becomes increasingly paranoid, out of touch with her people and largely authoritarian, after a period of being cloistered in her palace. The ruler of this fictional state in Europe then turns to the unstable soldier Herbert Zubak, played by Matthias Schoenaerts, for some unlikely confidences and a rather intimate relationship.
Heavily influenced by Zubak, Elena pursues her ambition to extend all her power despite her mistakes, leading to the fracturing of the country. According to several critics, the series relates, not without a hint of irony, the supremacy of certain political leaders and their unbridled quest for power. A drift far from the foundations of democracy, which, as in The Regime, all too often leads territories to their ruin.
Kate Winslet in the lead
Unsurprisingly, the actress holds the role with an iron fist. Kate Winslet fully embodies this despotic politician. With her closed face and chilling expressions, she conveys all the authority of Elena Vernham through her rigid postures and very (too?) elegant looks, which give her a cold allure.
A perfect role for the British actress whose reputation is well established. First seen in Titanic in 1997, Kate Winslet shines in dramatic, serious and comic roles. The Holiday, Contagion, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Reason and Sentiments, Neverland… all films that demonstrate the full extent of her acting talent.
In 2008 and 2009 respectively, she won the Oscar for Best Actress and the Golden Globes for Best Supporting Actress for The Reader. At the end of 2000, Kate Winslet also won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama for Les Noces Rebelles, followed by the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Miniseries or TV Movie for Mildred Pierce. A few years later, the actress received the same award for her roles in Steve Jobs and, in 2022, for Mare of Easttown.
Choice actors complete the cast
Kate Winslet is not the only one to deliver an accurate performance in The Regime. Matthias Schoenaerts, who plays Herbert Zubak, is just as credible. The Belgian actor is best known for his roles in De Rouille et d’Os, Bullhead, Quand vient la nuit, Black Book and Loin de la foule déchaînée.
Comédie-Française member Guillaume Gallienne (Yves Saint Laurent, Eperdument, Les Garçons et Guillaume à table !) plays Nicholas, while British actress Andrea Riseborough (Birdman, Nocturnal Animals, Mandy) plays Agnès. Martha Plimpton, Danny Webb, David Bamber, Henry Goodman, Hugh Grant and Rory Keenan are also in the cast.
Between conspiracy, alliance and the fall of a state, The Regime skilfully blends all the essential factors for a hard-hitting power series. This is hardly surprising, given that the show is directed by showrunners Will Tracy and Franck Rich, writer and producer respectively of the hit series Succession. Succession follows the schemes of the Roy children and heirs to take over the family business run by retired media mogul and patriarch Logan Roy. Stephen Frears (The Queen), Tracey Seward, Kate Winslet and Jessica Hobbs are also set to direct The Regime.
Read also > THE VERTIGINOUS JOURNEY OF “ANATOMY OF A FALL”: FROM GOLDEN PALM TO OSCARS
Featured photo: © HBO
