Tapie

I had some reservations about "Tapie" before i started to binge-watch. But I must say, that it has surprised me so far (3 episodes to go). A nice built up of the story, cinematography is okay, and the acting is good. Based on my own youth as a teenager in the 80s, I had heard of Bernard Tapie. So, I knew about his liasons to sport. Not so much about his involvement in politics - that's why I enjoyed those episodes the most. But, what I was really disappointed about, is that the series only show his succes with Olympique Marseille. But totally left out that other big universal sport he got involved in: as a sponsor / financer of the La Vie Claire cycling team. The iconic Mondriaan colors of red, yellow, blue, black and white squares and world famous cyclists as French own Bernard Hinault and Greg Lemond as the "poster-boys". 1985,1986 Bernard Tapie's La Vie Claire won the Tour de France - the biggest cycling competition in the World. These were iconic years in Sport. And not a single reference of it: why? A big miss!

From a working-class background, Bernard Tapie had an insatiable desire for power, a phenomenal capacity for action and a natural charisma. From 1960 to 1990, he created several business, took over companies in difficulty, became a legendary soccer manager, tried his hand at singing and politics. He won, and he failed. Again and again. This hyperactive man had brilliant intuitions, and never let any obstacle discourage him. But he had no scruples either, and left a growing number of unemployed workers in his wake. Caught up in scandal, he embodies France's fascination and contempt for economic success.

Bernard TAPIE... icon of the French businessman, a man who leaves no one indifferent. He's that guy you love to hate. We disapprove of his unscrupulous methods, but we can't help admiring his energy, his determination to shake up the establishment, his naive pugnacity in the face of those born into the strata of power. The rich and powerful never accept those who dare to rise up and join them. They find a thousand invisible ways to restrain and bully them.

We're used to the cynicism of wealthy businessmen who crush the workers in their companies. But Tapie was born in the working class. An empathetic guy who understood the workers. What wouldn't have shocked coming from a man born rich, disappointed coming from him. In the end, that he should have abandoned "his own" along the way, that is the sin French people cannot forgive Bernard Tapie.

The series succeeds in the tour de force of making us love this guy, understand him, admire him without approving of him. The performance of Laurent Lafitte is simply stunning. Episode after episode, we're drawn into the highly symbolic story of an ascent and a fall. Fascinating...

On a much lower scale, the ascension of Bernard Tapie and his aplomb reminded me of Trump... He was a media darling, a businessman that ended up laying off thousands of workers even though he promised he wouldn't... The only differences lie in the fact that Bernard Tapie was a real self made man who could not count on his father's money and that he got burned for flying too close to the sun! He also got married twice only! :-) Anyways, I really enjoyed this series and even though it was largely fictional, many scandals rang a bell to me as I grew up in France in the 80s-90s. It was really entertaining and I definitely recommend this series to anyone that would like to learn more about a man that is still revered as the Boss in Marseilles and who is still worshipped by many in France as the son of a factory worker who became a billionaire, a minister of the government, a tv host, a singer, an actor, a business owner who owned Adidas and changed its logo and the owner of one of the biggest French football club!

This Netflix series centered around the life of Bernard Tapie proved to be an absolute gem. From the very start, we were unsure about committing to a full binge-watch, but once we started, there was no turning back. The storytelling, character development, and the actor's performances were all top-notch.

What truly sets this series apart is its ability to immerse you in the intriguing world of Bernard Tapie. It delves deep into the complexities of his life, his journey, and the challenges he faced, painting a vivid picture of a man who left an indelible mark on the world.

The writing is both engaging and thought-provoking, making it difficult to pause even for a moment. It's the kind of show that keeps you guessing and eager to see what happens next.

By the time we reluctantly called it a night, we couldn't help but reflect on the impact of this series. It's not just a show; it's an experience. If you're looking for a gripping, well-crafted narrative that will have you hooked from start to finish, this series is an absolute must-watch. Highly recommended!

The scene with Bernard Tapie visiting the State Prosecutor in his office is one of the best scenes I've ever seen.

I was glued to the screen.

Great dialogues, thumbs up to the screen writers. Both using their own strategy & words to intimidate the other. Throwing in some psycholgy of war as well. You could feel the tension in that room. The prosecotur despizing Tapie for what he stands for, not for the human being he is. Very clever. Tapie throwing everything he knows at the prosecutor who keeps his calm.

Truely fascinating to watch. And the mise en scene is amazing, with eye for details, well filmed!