The Children of the Century (1999)
"Les enfants du siècle" (original title)

The only thing more outrageous than French novelist George Sand's torrid love affair with the decadent author Alfred de Musset and her affinity for wearing men's clothing, was the content ... See full summary »

Director:

Diane Kurys

Writers:

Murray Head, Diane Kurys,

Stars:

Juliette Binoche, Benoît Magimel, Stefano Dionisi

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Juliette Binoche	...	George Sand
Benoît Magimel	...	Alfred de Musset
Stefano Dionisi	...	Pietro Pagello
Robin Renucci	...	François Buloz
Karin Viard	...	Marie Dorval
Isabelle Carré	...	Aimée d'Alton
Patrick Chesnais	...	Gustave Planche
Arnaud Giovaninetti	...	Alfred Tattet
Denis Podalydès	...	Sainte-Beuve
Olivier Foubert	...	Paul de Musset
Marie-France Mignal	...	Mme. de Musset
Michel Robin	...	Larive
Ludivine Sagnier	...	Hermine de Musset
Victoire Thivisol	...	Solange (as Victoire)
Julien Léal	...	Maurice

Storyline

The only thing more outrageous than French novelist George Sand's torrid love affair with the decadent author Alfred de Musset and her affinity for wearing men's clothing, was the content of her writing. Though Sand (otherwise known as the Baroness Dudevant) smoked cigars and cross-dressed, it was the boldness of her writing on issues such as the abstinence of marriage and women's frigidity that most contributed to the scandalous reputation she earned in French literary circles. When she met Alfred de Musset, the most gifted poet of his generation, the two quickly became a public cause celebrity while their work would go on to become some of the finest examples of 19th century romanticism.

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Plot Keywords:

french | alfred de musset | love | george sand | poet | 

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Taglines:

A passion too great to control.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

22 September 1999 (France)

Also Known As:

The Children of the Century

Filming Locations:

Paris, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$8,044 (USA) (13 September 2002)

Gross:

$54,912 (USA) (27 December 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alexandre Films, Canal+, Conseil Général de l'Indre

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min 105 min (theatrical)

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was shot in the actual rooms in the Hotel Danieli which Sand and Musset stayed in.

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Quotes

George Sand: Love does exist, it's not an illusion. One merely has to recognise it, and be humble before it.

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Connections

Version of Impromptu (1991)

User Reviews

Such a big passion

Wonderful mise-en-scene of a true passion that turned out to a, damaging love to hate you syndrome especially for Musset. Georges and Musset, they can't do with nor without each other. Their love was the spring of their inspiration that triggered their talent but the problem was that this love could feed only one's inspiration at a time.

Wonderful pictures, acting and especially costume design capture us in the late 1880's France which was a very nice experience.