L'oeuvre au noir (1988)

In the sixteenth century, Spain occupies Flanders, an Inquisition enforces the faith. Aging writer and philosopher, Zénon Ligre, comes to Bruges using a false name and papers to serve as a ... See full summary »

Director:

André Delvaux

Writers:

André Delvaux, Marguerite Yourcenar (novel)

Stars:

Gian Maria Volonté, Sami Frey, Jacques Lippe

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gian Maria Volonté	...	Zénon
Sami Frey	...	Prieur des Cordeliers
Jacques Lippe	...	Myers
Anna Karina	...	Catherine
Philippe Léotard	...	Henri-Maximilien
Jean Bouise	...	Campanus
Marie-Christine Barrault	...	Hilzonde
Marie-France Pisier	...	Martha
Mathieu Carrière	...	Pierre de Hamaere
Pierre Dherte	...	Cyprien
Johan Leysen	...	Rombaut
Dora van der Groen	...	Greete
Senne Rouffaer	...	Le Cocq
Geert Desmet	...	Han
Michel Poncelet	...	Josse

Storyline

In the sixteenth century, Spain occupies Flanders, an Inquisition enforces the faith. Aging writer and philosopher, Zénon Ligre, comes to Bruges using a false name and papers to serve as a physician to the poor, establishing a clinic and steam bath. His methods and opinions are outside the mainstream, but he has the protection and friendship of the local Prior. Zénon, an aristocrat with a degree in canon law, lives humbly. He learns of bacchanals under Masonic signs involving monks and women, and he warns those involved. The Prior is dying, and he urges Zénon to flee to England. Zénon burns his writing. Will he leave or will he face ecclesiastical accusers and, perhaps, the stake?

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Plot Keywords:

male nudity | color in title | based on novel

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

France Belgium

Language:

French

Release Date:

13 May 1988 (France)

Also Known As:

The Abyss

Company Credits

Production Co:

Philippe Dussart, Films A2, La Nouvelle Imagerie

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

The Alchemist

André Delvaux was a talented filmmaker whose works can be difficult to watch. They seem to drift by in a sort of glacial calm, although the subject matter is often very interesting. Rendez-vous à Bray was the first film of his I saw, and it repaid watching even if the emotional temperature was rather low. L'Oeuvre au noir is taken from a Marguerite Yourcenar novel, and shows the austerity she was famous for. At times it feels rather like walking barefoot over a marble floor.

Gian-Maria Volonté's voice had to be dubbed for the film, but his face is expressive. We can follow his efforts to bring modern medical and scientific practices to Flanders in defiance of the Inquisition. Sami Frey as his cousin the prior is sympathetic.